‘The Prophecy’ (R)

There's a war going on in heaven—has been, actually, for some time now. Or at least that's what Gregory Widen's "The Prophecy" suggests. The strange thing, though, is that it's a war between angels. It seems that ever since God wanted human beings to have souls—which angels don't have—some of the angels have copped an attitude. They don't think these "talking monkeys" deserve souls; they think it means that God loves humans more.

Of all the bad angels, Gabriel is the worst. Played by Christopher Walken, whose chalk-white complexion is contrasted dramatically by his jet-black Elvis pompadour, Gabriel has come to Earth on a special mission. The war, according to Gabriel and Simon (Eric Stoltz), the good angel who opposes him, has been in a stalemate for eons. Apparently, angels don't know nearly as much about killing as humans, and so, to break the deadlock, Gabriel decides he needs a real expert—i.e., an American Army officer from the Korean War who was accused of cannibalism.

The joke in this is that Walken—who is decked out here like some SoHo Johnny Cash—would have to take lessons in evil from anyone. All the intimations of malevolence and depravity are there in the actor's magnificently corrupted face. From his first scene, he chills our marrow. It's also sort of a silly notion to put up lightweights such as Stoltz, who appears not to have changed clothes since "Killing Zoe," and Elias Koteas, who plays an ex-seminary-student-turned-cop, against a powerhouse like Walken. Though the actor does little more than stroll through the film, he creates such an immediate sense of electricity that everyone else seems dim by comparison. Angels, devils or cops, they just aren't in his league.

The Prophecy is rated R.