For Prophet

For Prophet, a delightful satire written and directed by Mark Stewart Iverson, playfully pokes fun at the revered holiday classic It’s A Wonderful Life. The film opens with whimsical, nebulous beings engaging in a humorous discussion about human woes. Their mission? To awaken the prophet and help him rediscover his humanity. This amusing and absurd scenes sets the tone for the entire film, promising a continuous stream of humor and wit.

Said prophet is Damon (Ben Marten), whose juice bar is struggling in the same manner his marriage is. It’s not that he’s a bad husband, but ever since his dad passed away from cancer, he’s been more distant and fails to communicate effectively. Understandably, this upsets his wife, Cassandra (Stephanie Wohar). Then Raphael (Valentina Garcia) appears to Damon, who doesn’t know or believe what the angel is at first.

It soon becomes apparent that only Damon can see the angel. Once Raphael forces the human to spout off barely comprehensible words about local government corruption, Damon begins to believe the angel’s story. But why was he chosen, and why won’t Raphael reveal themselves to anyone else? Is there any credence to the corruption story, or was the angel just making a point?

“…becomes apparent that only Damon can see the angel.”

For Prophet needs to be slightly longer. Damon’s loss of faith is spoken of often, but it is never truly felt. The town of Mt. Zion, beyond its name, is not established as a Footloose-esque town ruled by the church. Then why does it matter to his friends and stepmom (T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh) if Damon no longer attends church? Yes, his faith, or lack thereof, specifically, is a significant part of the plot. But the world-building isn’t entirely successful.

But despite its flaws, the film is delightful and engaging. Raphael’s persistence may be annoying, but that is its purpose. Damon’s struggle with a demon (Enrico Natale) adds depth to his character and aids in his grief. The film’s comedy, ranging from goofy to clever, effectively highlights the absurdity of the situation. The corruption thread, wrapped up in a sweet and surprising manner, ensures that the film never feels stale, keeping the audience engaged throughout.

The biggest reason the film works is the cast. Marten balances the drama and comedy perfectly, allowing the character to breathe fully. Garcia’s delivery of awkward misuses of colloquialisms is hilarious. Wohar and Keymáh keep the drama in focus, so nothing gets so silly it feels implausible.

For Prophet could use a few extra scenes with the main humans early on. But once the stage is properly set, the film works quite well. The dialogue is snappy yet realistic enough. But it is the cast that truly leaves a lasting impression.