LOOKING at John Carpenter’s catalogue of movie creations, it’s littered with some genius (The Thing, Halloween, Escape from New York).

But lately, he’s been behind some awful releases – including Ghosts of Mars and The Ward. If we could have harnessed all that was good from his movies – from 1976-1988 – then it’s fair to assume we wouldn’t have had to endure the dross of nonsense like Village of the Damned.

However, back in 1987 Carpenter brought fans of horror something that, for me, is one of his most underrated films. Although, it’s definitely safe to say it’s a bizarre feature. So, to that end, I bring you:

Prince of Darkness
John Carpenter, 1987, USA

WHEN a priest (Donald Pleasance) calls in a research team to study the discovery of a mysterious cylinder that contains a green swirling fluid, little does anyone realise the battle earth – or Los Angeles, at least – if going to be involved in.

The cannister, housed in the basement of a disused LA church, gets the team excited as they investigate what it is.

It is soon discovered that the odd liquid is the essence of Satan. There also appears to be some kind of intelligence to the liquid as it continues to produce complex data only revealed by computer decoding.

The more sinister side of the cylinder results in small particles of the fluid escaping the cylindrical prison and finding their way to members of the group, slowly possessing them.

While all this is happening inside the church, outside is just as odd. Throngs of possessed folk have barricaded the church ensuring those in it can’t get back out.

Following their examinations, Professor Howard Birack (Victor Wong) deduces that the green matter is actually the son of the Anti-God – a more powerful being, but it is looking for a way onto earth via help from a human host.

Things take a turn for the worse when the cannister opens completely and the liquid finds its way into research student Kelly (Susan Blanchard). However, prior to this, the survivors among the team start sharing the same dream of a shadowy figure emerging from the doors of the church.

With the unfortunate Kelly being used as the vessel to help the Anti-God find his way to earth, it (she) attempts to bring the devil himself through a dimensional portal using a huge mirror by drawing the Father’s hand through it as sections of the group are otherwise engaged in fights with the other possessed nutcases.

It all climaxes with Catherine Danforth (Lisa Blount) takes on the possessed Kelly, but the duo fall into the portal just as the priest smashes the mirror, trapping Danforth, Kelly and the Anti-God in the other realm.

And Carpenter wraps it all up with a little hint of more to come.

As stated, Prince of Darkness is an odd little offbeat horror in which the science side of things rarely adds up, but helps create some entertaining elements in the film.

Prince of Darkness is almost a zombie film, though not quite. It is filled with possessed people intent on either killing or preventing others from surviving the return of Satan. But rather than them being regenerated dead people, they’re street bums and other folk taken over by the weird green liquid.

One of the most striking aspects of the film is Carpenter’s score, which is bang on at creating atmosphere and tension.

Wong is, as always, entertaining on screen while Pleasance brings his own style to the role of the priest that helps provide added gravitas which could have been hammy in lesser hands.

Despite an estimated budget of $3m, Prince of Darkness never looks cheap and, despite some dodgy science, the story and performances grab hold of your attention to the very last chilling scene.

Overall, it will divide audiences into one of two camps – those who love it and those who are baffled by it. Thankfully, I fall into the first category.