End of Days (1999)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Peter Hyams

Writer (WGA):

Andrew W. Marlowe (written by)

Release Date:

24 November 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Prepare for the end.

Plot:

At the end of the century, Satan visits New York in search of a bride. It's up to an ex-cop who now runs an elite security outfit to stop him.

Plot Keywords:

Satan | Millennium | Murder | New Year's Eve | New York City

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 18	10:30 PM	AMC
Thur. Nov. 19	5:15 PM	AMC

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Jericho Cane
Gabriel Byrne	...	The Man / Satan
Robin Tunney	...	Christine York
Kevin Pollak	...	Bobby Chicago
CCH Pounder	...	Detective Margie Francis
Derrick O'Connor	...	Thomas Aquinas
David Weisenberg	...	OB / GYN
Rainer Judd	...	Christine's Mother
Miriam Margolyes	...	Mabel
Udo Kier	...	Head Priest
Victor Varnado	...	Albino
Michael O'Hagan	...	Cardinal
Mark Margolis	...	Pope
Jack Shearer	...	Kellogg
Rod Steiger	...	Father Kovak

MPAA:

Rated R for intense violence and gore, a strong sex scene and language.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #37048) | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | Philippines:PG-13 (cut) | South Korea:15 (cable rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Belgium:KNT | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Bryant Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Beacon Communications

Trivia:

Guillermo del Toro was offered the chance to direct, but turned it down.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the priests have tried to kill Christine at her home, Jericho is seen walking behind her. One shot the white door behind is open but when the frame changes to Jericho the door is shut and then back open in the next shot.

Quotes:

Jericho Cane: Take it easy... we're the good guys.

Movie Connections:

References Dogma (1999)

Soundtrack:

Little Yurt on the Prairie

It's AH-NULD VS. SATAN in the match of the century.

On the eve of the millennium, Satan arrives in NYC, takes over the body of an unidentified New Yorker (Gabriel Byrne) and sets out to find the young woman (Robin Tunney) who's destined to be the poor sap whom he must impregnate in order to bring about the destruction of Earth. However, AH-NULD is in his way, as miserable, alcoholic ex-cop Jericho Cane, who stopped 'believing' when his family was murdered by crooked cops.

I guess this is what you get when you want to mate a contemporary religious horror thriller with a typical Schwarzenegger action spectacle. This movie is quite loud, over-the-top, silly, and ridiculous - I don't think the film-makers really took themselves seriously - but I did find it to be entertaining. It certainly does have a lot of energy, and good performances by AH-NULD (believe it or not!), Byrne, Tunney, CCH Pounder (a criminally underused actress, in my opinion) and Rod Steiger, playing a priest 20 years after he played one in "The Amityville Horror". Packed with flamboyant special effects, this movie is obviously not out to scare anyone but to provide them with a goofy sort of diversion. Highlight is the battle in the subway system.

I'll admit that I do like it; it's a guilty pleasure, to be sure.

7/10