Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Prince of Darkness 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 18, 2021

Making his move into larger studio productions during the 1980s, director John Carpenter endured a few box office failures, effectively throttling his rise in industry ranks. Looking to get back to his low-budget roots and obtain more control over his projects, Carpenter turned the late 1980s into an experimental period, with 1987’s “Prince of Darkness” the first of a one-two punch (the other being 1988’s “They Live”) where the helmer made a choice to explore his interests in the world around him. “Prince of Darkness” has the kind of grand title that promises supreme genre chaos, but the master moviemaker doesn’t go furious with his tale of Satanic evil in a jar, electing to go cerebral with the work, which merges the slow-burn exploratory habits of a Hammer Films production with the scientific specifics of a college lecture.

Receiving an invitation from Priest (Donald Pleasance) to visit the bowels of Saint Godard’s Church, Professor Birack (Victor Wong) brings along a team of physics students, including Brian (Jameson Parker) and Catherine (Lisa Blount), to help decode the mystery of a hidden cylinder filled with swirling green liquid hidden. While the technicians begin their studies, Priest and Birack begin to understand something grander in play, exploring the presence of the Anti-God and its quest to conquer humanity. For the students, a night of survival commences when the Satanic liquid finds its way into human hosts, setting the scene for an apocalyptic event 2000 years in the making.

Carpenter’s screenplay (he’s credited as “Martin Quatermass”) asks a lot of the audience. He’s not just presenting a tale of good and evil, but telling a story that delves into science, theory, religion, and metaphysics, using smart, trained characters to tackle a problem beyond human comprehension. Perhaps it doesn’t all add up, but that appears to be the spirit of the writing, smacking viewers with big ideas concerning the Anti- God and its plans to escape its realm and enter ours, using Satan in liquid form to destroy life.

Of course, to get to a point of conflict, character introductions are in order. Carpenter stumbles a bit with his personalities, showing stiffness with dialogue exchanges and miscastings are painful (Dennis Dun, portraying a wiseacre student, appears to be acting in a different film), but the general mood of “Prince of Darkness” is dread, following the gang as they encounter something awful they don’t immediately understand. There’s a bit of a zombie movie in the mix, with the infected squirting evil into the mouths of others, creating an army, and pressure is found outside the church, with the local homeless community (including Alice Cooper) gathering to make sure nobody leaves alive. There’s ancient text to decode, insect gatherings to avoid, and literal messages from the future arriving via dream communication. Carpenter goes big with “Prince of Darkness,” and its strangeness is compelling, handed a gift in the helmer’s score (created with Alan Howarth), which secures tension through thick slices of meaty synth that conjure intended unease.

Prince of Darkness 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screenshots are sourced from the Blu-ray disc.

Shout Factory brings "Prince of Darkness" to UHD with a 2160p viewing presentation (2.35:1 aspect ratio), offering the film in Dolby Vision. It's a nice upgrade from the previous Blu-ray release, and the 4K viewing experience delivers an appealingly cinematic look for the movie. Grain structure remains intact with a few "softer" areas here and there, but overt blockiness is avoided. Detail delivers a crisp examination of production achievements, including rooms decorated with metallic equipment and church decoration. Facial particulars are textured, securing age and homeless wear and tear, while make-up efforts are distinct, really showing off the nuance of certain flesh-shredded effects. Colors deliver a darker palette as the action goes into the church, but the glowing emerald swirl of Satan juice is potent, along with period costuming and hair color, with Lisa Blount's red mane vivid. Skintones are natural. Exteriors supply rich greenery. Delineation remains stable, dealing with darker outfits and shadowy corners of action with slight solidification at times. Highlights are tasteful but not explosively bright. Source is in excellent condition.

Prince of Darkness 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 7.1 Dolby TrueHD mix shows authority from the very beginning, presenting a deep, rumbly synth crawl, hitting listeners with a crisp understanding of scoring cues. Instrumentation is precise, with suspense offerings pushing out into the surrounds, supporting the film's tightening level of suspense. Dialogue exchanges are sharp, handling exposition needs and scenes of panic without distortion. Sound effects are defined, capturing the wetness of evil and possession horrors. Surrounds do well with atmospherics, including room tone and shuffling community intimidation outside the church. Some separation effects are detected. Note: The UHD contains a 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix, which is not present on the Blu-ray.

Prince of Darkness 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

UHD

• Commentary features writer/director John Carpenter.

• T.V. Spot (:33, SD) is offered.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:04, HD) is included.

Blu-ray:

• Commentary features writer/director John Carpenter.

• "Sympathy for the Devil" (10:28, HD) is an interview with writer/director John Carpenter, who recalls his career status in the mid-1980s, growing tired of making big-budget studio pictures. Smaller movies he could control were desired, with "Prince of Darkness" an attempt to push new ideas into horror, with Carpenter influenced by books on quantum mechanics. Aiming for dread, the helmer also worked on making his apocalyptic story approachable without losing integrity, including the use of a slower pace and longer shots to set the mood. The interviewee discusses the Los Angeles shoot and reveals how one special effect was pulled off. Carpenter closes with appreciation and surprise with his career longevity, suggesting home video saved many of his movies.

• "Alice at the Apocalypse" (9:28, HD) is an interview with Alice Cooper, who recalls his formative years in Detroit, spending weekends at the local movie theater watching horror films, also absorbing lots of television, sparking his love of the genre. Cooper details his initial meeting with John Carpenter, visiting the set of "Prince of Darkness," offered a role as an agent of Satan on the spot. Special effects are dissected, and the interviewee shares some philosophy concerning the ways of evil. Cooper celebrates the new appreciation for "Prince of Darkness," and longs for a sequel.

• "The Messenger" (12:41, HD) is an interview with Robert Grasmere, who found his way into the "Prince of Darkness" production via producer Larry Franco. Originally hired to help with special effects, Grasmere was eventually recruited by John Carpenter to perform in the feature. Different scenes required special acting challenges, and the interviewee shares some of his experiences working with bugs and dealing with prosthetics. Cult appreciation for "Prince of Darkness" is shared, with Grasmere still delighted to have the professional experience.

• "Hell on Earth" (10:15, HD) is an interview with composer Alan Howarth, who describes his expanding role during the production of "Prince of Darkness," working as an engineer before trading ideas with John Carpenter, whom he describes as a "renaissance man." Howarth explores their collaborative process, happy to work with a decisive director, and he details the hunt for specific sounds when dealing with sonic layers of evil. The interviewee recalls growing technology of the time, and shares his awareness of Carpenter's influence on young filmmakers.

• "Horror's Hallowed Grounds" (13:44, HD) offers a tour of "Prince of Darkness" locations with host Sean Clark.

• "Q&A with John Carpenter" (12:10, SD) returns viewers to a 25th Anniversary screening of "Prince of Darkness" held at Screamfest 2012, with the writer/director fielding questions from an excited crowd.

• "T.V. Opening" (6:55, SD) presents "Prince of Darkness" with faster main titles and a re-edit that turns the story into Brian's dream.

• Photo Gallery (4:27) collects BTS snaps, publicity shots, and film stills.

• Radio Spots (:60) offer two commercials for "Prince of Darkness."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:47, SD) is included.

Prince of Darkness 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As a career change, "Prince of Darkness" presents some prime Carpenter, left to do what he wants with a semi-baffling script that lives for interpretation. There's plenty of exposition to keeps things understood, but the picture resides in a menacing space of immediate threat and apocalyptic uncertainty, giving it a distinct atmosphere even when it struggles with pace and performance. "Prince of Darkness" is a weird one, but it remains a pure Carpenter viewing experience, filled with gorgeous genre filmmaking and a refreshing interest in the unexplainable.