Horror Patch’s HALLOWEEN MONSTER MASH – Day 24: Prophecy!

In this holiday feature, we will showcase the best monster movies ever made during each day of the month, leading up to Halloween.

DAY 24

PROPHECY (1979)

When a dispute occurs between a logging operation and a nearby Native American tribe, Dr. Robert Verne (Robert Foxworth) and his wife, Maggie (Talia Shire), are sent in to mediate. Chief John Hawks (Armand Assante) insists the loggers are poisoning the water supply, and, though company man Isley (Richard Dysart) denies it, the Vernes can’t ignore the strangely mutated wildlife roaming the woods. Robert captures a bear cub for testing and soon finds himself the target of an angry mutant grizzly.

When this movie was being filmed in 1978, it had a history of production issues. Much of the film containing gore and nudity were cut out of the final film at the bequest of director John Frankenheimer. Many of these scenes cut would have made it a better film but due to his alcohol problems, they were cut anyway. Frankenheimer always thought this type of film was beneath him.

The film was a very modest success upon release but it has since achieved cult status in the years since, which happens to many of the best films. The cast was really good and included Robert Foxworth, Talia Shire, and Armand Assante.

The film also had an environmental storyline to it that would fit right in with today’s issues. The creature designer was the famed Tom Burman and he created a great creature concept, which could’ve been better had Frankenheimer not interferred. Still, Prophecy is a really fun movie with a decent message and a very cool monster.