Nothing makes for a cozier Sunday morning than a nice cup of coffee and Satan himself. This week’s homage to all that is sketchy pays tribute to none other than John Carpenter, as we settle down for a weekend romp in the 1987 sketch cinema treat, Prince of Darkness.

Attempting to ride Donald Pleasance’s success in the Halloween film series, Carpenter makes a half-hearted attempt at his own little version of The Exorcist, as we follow a group of physics majors and other scientific folk as they explore an abandoned church one weekend. Upon the death of a mysterious priest (whom we are never, ever properly introduced to), we follow Pleasance’s character, who is lovingly known only as ‘Priest’ into a hidden basement, where a spinning vat of green ooze suspiciously sits.

Victor Wong, Lisa Blount, and Jameson Parker’s uber-80’s mustache are among the group of science-types who have set up camp at the church in order to determine the nature of said ooze, which the mysteriously now-dead priest had been keeping watch over, seemingly to protect either the ooze, or mankind from the ooze. One is not quite sure.

But what one can be sure of is the uncharacteristic cheese-fest that plays out over the course of an hour and forty two minutes. I had to keep reminding myself that this was, in fact, a John Carpenter film, as the laughs were coming in fast and furious.

As various members of the entourage sneak a closer peak at the ooze, the ooze seems to reach out to each, turning each scientist into a zombie-like, Satan-possessed being hell-bent on random acts of violence. And a passion for insects. They never quite explain the insects.

Those unaffected thus far by the satanic snot find themselves plagued with strange dreams which seem to bring messages from the future. How far into the future? Who knows! What is the message? Do not expect to find out for certain.

Throughout the ordeal, one man retains his level, scientific head about the matter, and that is our friend Walter, portrayed by Dennis Dun. Walter is a scientist, unaffected by all of the religious, end-of-the-world propaganda being spread, and manages to stave off impending doom with his crafty, scientific wit.

Prince of Darkness is a must-see moment of embarrassment on the part of John Carpenter. Watching this film provided me the feeling that I had somehow become privy to inside, drunken movie-making moments that were never meant to be seen by public eye.

And now, I leave you with this week’s Sunday Morning Sketch Cinema quote(s) of the week:

Frank Wyndham (as the group decides to venture back into the church): “Come on! You can’t be serious! This is a joke! This is caca!!”

Computer (deciphering ancient text): “You will not be saved by the god plutonium.”

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