Prophecy 4K UHD (1979) (Kino Studio Classics)

[MifuneFan]

Kino will be releasing John Frankenheimer's Prophecy (1979) on 4K UHD on May 20th 2025! The film was previously released on Blu-ray by Scream Factory.

Originally Posted by Kino Lorber Insider

Coming May 20th!
https://kinolorber.com/product/prophecy-4kuhd

PROPHECY (1979)

DISC 1 (4KUHD):
• Brand New HDR Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
• NEW Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry
• 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio
• Triple-Layered UHD100 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles

DISC 2 (BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES):
• All of Our Sins: Interview with Actress Talia Shire (18:59)
• Bearing Up: Interview with Actor Robert Foxworth (10:02)
• Bear and Grit It: Interview with Screenwriter David Seltzer (13:13)
• Hard to Bear: Interview with Make-Up Effects Designer Tom Burman (19:34)
• Prophecy Prodigy: Interview with Make-Up Effects Artist Allan Apone (21:14)
• The Man Behind the Mask: Interview with Mime Artist Tom McLoughlin (21:51)
• Radio Spots
• Theatrical Trailer

Prophecy is a contemporary story of stark terror. Robert Foxworth (Ants!, The Black Marble) and Talia Shire (Rocky, The Godfather) star as a doctor and his wife, who, at the request of a concerned friend, travel to Maine to research the impact of the lumber industry on the local environment. They begin to investigate a succession of mysterious and terrifying events: ecological freaks of nature (including fish that grow many times their normal size), and a series of bizarre and grisly human deaths. Visionary director John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate, Ronin, Reindeer Games) brilliantly presents Prophecy as a “monster movie” as well as a suspenseful tale about the deadly forces which result from the pollution of our environment. The wonderful cast also includes Armand Assante (I, the Jury, Q&A) and Richard Dysart (Being There, The Thing).

When a dispute occurs between a logging operation and a nearby Native American tribe, Dr. Robert Verne (Robert Foxworth) and his wife, Maggie (Talia Shire), are sent in to mediate. Chief John Hawks (Armand Assante) insists the loggers are poisoning the water supply, and, though company man Isley (Richard Dysart) denies it, the Vernes can't ignore the strangely mutated wildlife roaming the woods. Robert captures a bear cub for testing and soon finds himself the target of an angry mutant grizz

Prophecy (1979) - Official Trailer - YouTube

[Dailyan]

As someone from Maine, my favorite part when they refer to "Androscoggin" like it's a town/city instead of an entire county.

[ste71]

I thought the lead actor in this film was the same guy from "City of the Living Dead"

[Driver78]

The plot sounds like a typical MacGyver episode lol but I did enjoy the film quite a bit so I’m in for this. Does anyone know if anything was cut from the film?

[Infallible Presence]

[drush9999]

I bought the Shout BD recently on sale, so y'all welcome.
Love this film though, right amount of cheese and gore.

[BluPat]

Awesome news! Love this movie! I have the Blu-ray but definitely getting this!

[Jorvic]

Just bought the Eureka Blu-ray a few months back!

This is not the next Frankenheimer film I would have selected for 4K, but I'll probably end up buying it as it's a pretty enjoyable one.

[deet]

Obligatory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zLb9UtQhy8

I was annoyed at how the first hour is all "this isn't just another dumb monster movie, look at all our important subplots! A failing marriage! Secret pregnancy! Tensions with Native Americans! The conflict between economic growth and environmental pollution!" before abruptly dumping all the subplots in the garbage and never resolving any of them.

This has a scene involving the characters hiding out underground which has a pretty good payoff, but otherwise it's just baaaaaad. And that final shot isn't going to look any better in 4K.

[DaylightsEnd]

Featherbananas....bad idea for camping. Happens every time.

Wait, what's a subplot?

Anyhoo....back on point. Mutant Manbearpig! 1979 35mm. Fresh 4k scan from the OCN. HDR. Groundbreaking practical effects. Quite simply, Day flippin' One!

Hey Arrow, you can't let Kino get away with this. Time to bring out your own vintage woods/mutant jam....a UK LE box set for The Prey (1980). Make it happen! I can practically taste the cucumber sandwiches.

[jess1581]

I'm beary excited.

[dubhousing]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

As someone from Maine, my favorite part when they refer to "Androscoggin" like it's a town/city instead of an entire county.

Your fellow Maine resident, Stephen King, had a blast writing about Prophecy in his book Danse Macabre. He pointed out some local errors, as well. It's fun to read - King lovingly mocks the film, but also has some warm regard for it.

[Gosszilla]

Remember reading this article in the June 1979 issue of Newsweek in which someone from Paramount was questioning why "ALIEN" was doing so well in the cinema, but that their horror release "Prophecy" was doing so poorly. Even going so far as to say that their (mutated bear) monster was scarier! -lol
But I digress, I do love me some cheesy "Prophecy" mutant bear madness!

[emmet otter]

I hope that the specs are good on this with new features. This is definitely worth a double dip for me. Such an underappreciated flick.

[Vixen of the Night]

Originally Posted by deet

[Show spoiler]Obligatory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zLb9UtQhy8

I was annoyed at how the first hour is all "this isn't just another dumb monster movie, look at all our important subplots! A failing marriage! Secret pregnancy! Tensions with Native Americans! The conflict between economic growth and environmental pollution!" before abruptly dumping all the subplots in the garbage and never resolving any of them.

[Show spoiler]
This has a scene involving the characters hiding out underground which has a pretty good payoff, but otherwise it's just baaaaaad. And that final shot isn't going to look any better in 4K.

I thought the movies theme is ripe for an updated satire/remake that resolves at the very least, the pregnancy subplot. My idea would be

[Show spoiler]the wife is giving birth to the mutant baby and freaking out "that's not my baby!" etc and then suddenly motherly instincts kick in and she cradles the baby, image pauses on mutant babies face, and "What Are We Gonna Do" by Dramarama plays over the end credits as the cheery on top which is a sarcastic environmental protest song that skewers the hypocrisy of the activists.

Dramarama - What Are We Gonna Do - YouTube

[RalphoR]

Originally Posted by emmet otter

I hope that the specs are good on this with new features. This is definitely worth a double dip for me. Such an underappreciated flick.

Very underrated! Love me some Prophecy. Anyone know what the release date is or how long Kino typically releases a 4k after announcing it? Here's hoping it's one of their "good" scans.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by RalphoR

Anyone know what the release date is or how long Kino typically releases a 4k after announcing it?

It's never less than a few months, but it can sometimes be a year or more, it all depends on variables we're never privy to. At least it's nice to know it's coming eventually.

[DaylightsEnd]

Damn! I saw this thread bumped, and had sudden hopes for an early release date announcement on this one. Happens sometimes with Kino, but very rarely. Oh well, back to the 9-month wait.

[RalphoR]

Not sure what's better....announcing early so we know a release is coming or announcing late so we don't have to wait. First world country issues for sure.

[Todd Parker]

I hope this comes with the Talia Shire interview where she goes all Gaia ballistic and s***.