Prince of Darkness

Prince of Darkness is a 1987 American supernatural horror film written, directed, and co-scored by John Carpenter. Starring Donald Pleasence, Victor Wong, Jameson Parker, and Lisa Blount, the film follows a group of quantum physics students who assist a Catholic priest in investigating an ancient cylinder hidden beneath a Los Angeles monastery, only to discover it contains a sentient liquid embodiment of Satan. The cast includes several Carpenter collaborators, while musician Alice Cooper appears in a supporting role as one of the possessed homeless people. It is the second installment in Carpenter's unofficial "Apocalypse Trilogy", following The Thing (1982) and preceding In the Mouth of Madness (1994). John Carpenter developed the film after researching theoretical physics and atomic theory, combining scientific concepts with religious horror. Produced on a budget of $3 million, Prince of Darkness was released by Universal Pictures on October 23, 1987, and grossed $14.2 million worldwide. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its "handful of chillingly clever ideas", but believed it did not emulate the same successful horror as Carpenter's previous films. It was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Music and won the Critics Award at the Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival. Like many of Carpenter's films, Prince of Darkness later developed a cult following.