End of Days (1999)
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The story
Former NYPD Police Detective Jericho Cane runs an elite security agency in New York City while haunted by the murder of his wife and daughter. On December 28, 1999, Satan arrives on Earth and possesses an investment banker. Jericho and his friend Bobby are assigned as private security for the banker. After Jericho saves the man from an assassination attempt by a prophetic Vatican priest, they discover a young woman named Christine York. Christine has been raised by disciples of Satan who are grooming her for their master. As Satanist violence escalates across the city, Jericho must intervene to protect her from various forces seeking to claim her.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Former NYPD Police Detective Jericho Cane runs an elite security agency in New York City, haunted by the murder of his wife and daughter. On December 28, 1999, Satan arrives on Earth and possesses an investment banker. Jericho and his friend Bobby Chicago are assigned as private security for the banker. Jericho saves him from an assassination attempt by a prophetic Vatican priest, Thomas Aquinas, who warns of Satan's return. They discover Christine York, a young woman being groomed by Satan's disciples. Satanist violence escalates, and Satan eventually kills Aquinas and the caretaker, Mabel, while seemingly killing Bobby. Jericho and Christine take shelter in a church where Father Kovak explains that Satan must impregnate Christine before midnight on December 31 to gain dominion over Earth. Satan offers to resurrect Jericho's family if he surrenders Christine, but Jericho refuses. Bobby eventually betrays them, abducting Christine. Jericho is crucified by Satanists but rescued by Kovak. On December 31, Jericho tracks the Satanists to a subterranean lair. He rescues Christine from Bobby, who reveals he serves Satan. Jericho destroys Satan's physical body with a grenade. The pair barricade themselves in a church. Satan breaks in in a monstrous winged form and possesses Jericho. Jericho regains control long enough to sacrifice himself by impaling his body on a sword held by a statue of the Archangel Michael, expelling Satan back to Hell. Jericho dies seeing a vision of his family, while the world celebrates the new millennium.
- First release year
- 1999
- Runtime (minutes)
- 122
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Peter Hyams
- Writers
- Andrew W. Marlowe · writer
- Cast and characters
- Arnold Schwarzenegger · Detective Jericho Cane; Gabriel Byrne · Satan; Robin Tunney · Christine York; Kevin Pollak · Bobby Chicago; Rod Steiger · Father Kovak; CCH Pounder · Marge Francis; Derrick O'Connor · Thomas Aquinas; Miriam Margolyes · Mabel
- Genres
- action; horror; thriller; supernatural
- Themes
- Religious conflict; Sacrifice; Redemption; Good vs. Evil
- Tone and mood
- Lurid; Action-packed; Supernatural; Ominous
- Setting
- New York City in December 1999
- Premise and plot tags
- Apocalyptic; Cults; Demon; Religious Horror; Spirit Possession
- Reception
- The film received largely negative reviews from critics but was a box office success, grossing $212 million worldwide. It was described as an overblown thriller with formulaic action and poor acting, though it was noted as profitable due to international revenue and DVD sales.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 11% · scale: Rotten · review count: 103; Metacritic · score: 34 · scale: 100 · review count: 33
- Awards and nominations
- Razzie Award · Worst Actor · Nominated; Razzie Award · Worst Supporting Actor · Nominated; Razzie Award · Worst Director · Nominated; Motion Picture Sound Editors · Best Sound Editing - Effects & Foley · Nominated; Blockbuster Entertainment Awards · Favorite Actor - Action/Science Fiction · Nominated; Blockbuster Entertainment Awards · Favorite Supporting Actor - Action/Science-Fiction · Nominated
- Production trivia
- Sam Raimi and Guillermo del Toro were offered the job but turned it down.; The role of Jericho Cane was originally written for Tom Cruise.; The film was heavily promoted by the WWE, with Schwarzenegger appearing on SmackDown!.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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