Prince of Darkness

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Kia B Oct 16 A horror with a mystery. John Carpenter doesn't disappoint. See more Gabriel T @GabrielFagundes 5d It took quite a good time to get on track, so it's a bit boring and plain until the last third of it, but it manages to deliver good tension-packed moments at the ending. A bit outdated, but it still has a good idea behind it See more Craig W. @CJWolfe27 Oct 21 I really enjoyed this, a must watch if you’re a John Carpenter fan See more Stephen G. @patient1 Oct 17 Such an interesting film, grew up minutes from the church this was filmed at. It’s where the Pope used to stay when he came to Los Angeles, California. This was really quite unnerving when it came out, as we saw it in the movie theater, and it had people gasping and leaving the theater. I knew I was in for a good time when that started happening. I’ve loved this film ever since, raised my 3 kids on John Carpenter films, and am hoping to do the same for ALL OF my grandchildren as well. See more Jeremy B. @Cubs_N_Bears1978 Sep 29 Very weird. But not bad. Some dumb dialogue, but acting wasn’t terrible. See more Zom L Sep 10 John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness is a strange, cerebral, and deeply unsettling entry in his filmography that deserves far more recognition than it often gets. It blends elements of science, religion, and cosmic horror into a story that feels both apocalyptic and claustrophobic, with an atmosphere so thick it practically seeps off the screen. What sets this film apart is its mood and tone, which Carpenter masterfully builds from the very first frame. The plot about graduate students and a priest discovering a mysterious container of swirling green liquid in an abandoned church might sound pulpy on the surface, but the way Carpenter handles it—slowly, methodically, and with a creeping sense of inevitability—makes it terrifying. By merging pseudo-science with theological dread, he crafts something that feels bigger and more cosmic than a simple “monster in the basement” story. The characters aren’t Carpenter’s most fleshed-out, and the pacing lingers a little too long in places, but that’s where his atmosphere compensates. The dream sequences, broadcast through “tachyon transmissions,” are still some of the most haunting images in horror cinema. And then, of course, there’s the music score—my favorite of all time. Carpenter and Alan Howarth deliver a pulsing, hypnotic synth masterpiece that doesn’t just accompany the film but defines it. The music is dread incarnate: relentless, minimal, and almost ritualistic, as if it’s summoning the darkness itself. Every deep throb of bass and every eerie synth line tightens the grip of unease until you can’t separate the sound from the visuals. It’s not just a score; it’s the film’s soul. Prince of Darkness may not be as widely celebrated as Halloween or The Thing, but it’s one of Carpenter’s most daring and thought-provoking works. It earns well deserved points for ambition, atmosphere, and delivering one of the greatest horror scores ever written. See more Read all reviews

Prince of Darkness

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