This is certainly one of John Carpenter's stranger and underappreciated films.  It's the second installment in what Carpenter calls his "apocalypse trilogy" (which include 1982's The Thing and 1995's In The Mouth of Madness).  Simply put, this film is about the coming of the apocalypse, and the arrival of the Prince of Darkness - Satan himself.  This is one seriously erie and creepy film, but it has the slowest pace of any Carpenter film I have seen.  I believe this film comes as an acquired taste.  It can take a few viewings to really enjoy it fully.

A group of scientists, students, and priests - led by Father Loomis (Donald Pleasance)and Professor Howard Birack (Victor Wong) - have come to study a mysterious canister which has been sealed away in the basement of a Los Angeles church.  The erie green liquid inside this canister proves to be supernatural as it defies gravity, leaking upwards to the ceiling, and soon, those who come into contact with it are transformed into mindless undead slaves of Satan himself.  Outside the church, the homeless and derelicts of Los Angeles become powerless against the influence of hell.  The few human beings inside the church are trapped - barricading themselves inside with threats all around them.  Theories are abound as to what is happening and philosophies about heaven, hell, and all of creation.  But whatever forces are at work, these few people must not only survive these servants of hell, but also prevent the coming of the Prince of Darkness from the other side.

If you choose to watch this film, I suggest you get things as dark and as quite as possible, put in the DVD, get that surround sound just right, and get ready to experience one of the most haunting, frightening films ever.  This is possible the most taut and suspenseful Carpenter film of all-time.  The master of terror gives us a film that nobody should easily be able to forget.  The score from John Carpenter & Alan Howarth is absolutely mesmerizing and powerful.  Right from the beginning, it sucks you into a creepy and absolutely ominious world, and doesn't let go until the end credits have finished.  It's an absorbing, killer work of musicianship that compliments the film as great as it ever gets!

The effects here are great.  There's nothing here as complex as in The Thing (which Rob Bottin really delivered something groundbreaking), but there's plenty of scary makeup work and visuals.  There's such apocalyptic biblical imagery here - including swarms of creepy crawly critters - that it will have you squirming and jumping from your seat.  John Carpenter wrote the screenplay, and man, he does just such an amazing job illiciting such haunting emotions.  The film has such a suspenseful power that it could ONLY come from John Carpenter.

The cast is full of Carpenter regulars such as Donald Pleaseance (Halloween, Escpae From New York), Victor Wong & Dennis Dun (Big Trouble in Little China), and Peter Jason (They Live, In The Mouth of Madness).  Also, Jameson Parker from TV's Simon & Simon is in a lead role as well.  It's very much a Carpenter style cast in that he doesn't cast big stars, but a lot of strong character actors that give the film a textured diversity.  I really enjoy all their talents, and they all put in fantastic efforts.  John Carpenter has always been great in the casting department (probably best displayed in The Thing).  We even get a cameo from shock-rocker Alice Cooper, and he contributes the title song from the album of the same name.  The song only appears in a small scene, and via a guy's walkman radio.  In any case, it's always nice to see Alice appear in a horror film via an acting role or as a musician.  He has no lines, but appears creepy enough as one of the derelict servants outside the church.  Overall, this cast gives a lot of life and character to this slow-paced film.

This film is undoubtedly one of John Carpenter's finest works.  Some don't take a good liking to it because of it's slow, slow pace, and its focus more on suspense than physical intensity.  Whatever the case, I find it to be a masterwork worthy of inclusion to anyone's DVD collection.  The cast is very good, fun at times, but solid always.  The score is pure gold, a powerful accomplishment for Carpenter and Alan Howarth.  As in any Carpenter film, the cinematography is stellar, and the direction is absolutely pheonominal!  If you genuinely want to get creeped out to the max one dark, lonely night - this is the one bad ass film to watch!  I won't say this is a perfect film, the slow pacing can turn some people off, and your attention might waiver.  Though, it is a great flick, and I will give it a great 9 out of 10.  If nothing else, the ending will grab you like only a John Carpenter film can!