The Prodigal Planet

I love the "Thief in the night" series. These are the only Christian movies that really show the view point of a believer's underground movement with out revolving around an anti-christ like the Omega Code and other new films. If your looking for a good movie based on the end-times this is a really good place to start.

However, "Prodigal Plant" is a slow movie. It hits home but doesn't seem to go far in story telling. Some point of the film you may either feel tired or un-interested, but once seeing the film, you still can admire it's place within the series.

Don't expect to see this film on the IFC channel since they are not Christian friendly, but you can buy these films (now on DVD) online or rent them in your local Christian book store (if they rent movies). These films are a must see for either bible study or entertainment.

To understand the right wing mindset you have to view these films; and ones like them. There is a level of U.N. hatred and fear that comes across. This hatred is embraced by many organizations like the JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY and other groups. The core reason for this hate is the belief by the screenwriters that a one world military and government will form to enslave mankind. This government is preseumed to be the now ineffectual U.N. On forming this government a mark will be enforced on a persons right hand or forehead. Many theologians debate what this mark will; be but the current belief is it will be a biochip implant. Think I'm talking trash talk...millions believe this stuff. This film is credited with starting a scare campaign with people who viewed it. To the films credit, nothing like it had been made before it's release in 1972.

This is the fourth movie in the series that began with "A Thief in the Night" back in 1972. This particular film essentially follows up where its predecessor "Image of the Beast" left off with "David Michaels" (William Wellman Jr.) having been captured by the one-world organization known as "UNITE". Just prior to his execution he is rescued by an attractive woman named "Connie Wright" (Terri Lynn Hall) who is a member of the opposition going by the name of the"Believer's Underground". The reason he is rescued is because of his knowledge of the main computer system that UNITE uses and it is hoped that he will be able to somehow disable it. In order to do that he has to go to a secret location which has a computer that is connected to the mainframe. On the way there, he and Connie pick up some fellow refugees. Unfortunately, it turns out that one of the people in their stolen vehicle is a spy who is feeding information to UNITE in order to discover the secret location. Meanwhile, the fugitives not only have the enemy to contend with but they also have to try to survive the elements unleashed in the great "Bowl Judgements" as well. In any case, this film encompasses quite a bit of Biblical material and unless a person is acquainted with the Book of Revelation or has seen the other three films in the series I'm afraid new viewers may not fully understand what transpires in this movie. That's not to say that this film is necessarily bad. However, it is somewhat dated and other than William Wellman Jr. and possibly Lynda Beatie (as "Linda") the acting could have used some improvement. Likewise,having all the mutants wearing monk attire was kind of ridiculous. In short, this movie could have been better. As it is I rate it as slightly below average.

THE PRODIGAL PLANET has some flaws but overcomes them and sizes up to be a great family adventure film. The film, designed for church and youth group viewership has many visual homages to films such as the OMEGA MAN which spice up the film visually. Visually interesting and well made, this film proves to be the best in the series technically. Targeted for a family and church audience the film does not let down it's target viewers.

I happen to be rather fond of DAMNATION ALLEY. It's an extremely cheesy post apocalypse film from 1977 starring George Peppard & Jan Michael Vincent. As I said, it's cheesy & goofy, but fun & has a really cool vehicle at its center.

The makers of this film clearly saw it (along with several other films of the period, like THE OMEGA MAN, LOGANS RUN, SOYLENT GREEN, etc.) & ripped off the basic concept & then ladled on the Christian apologetics from their previous films. As well as a bunch of braindead (anti)computer nonsense. As well as the most arrogant, egotistical, self-important, moronic hero ever.