The Prodigal Planet
Encyclopedia
The Prodigal Planet is a 1983 film by Russell S. Doughten
and directed by Donald W. Thompson. It is the fourth in a series of at least five films (one still in production) based on an evangelical interpretation of Bible prophecy
and the rise of the Antichrist
. Unlike the other films in the series which were filmed in Iowa
, this one was filmed in New Mexico
.
During the final years of the reign of the Antichrist
, a nuclear war
has devastated the earth and the Antichrist and his world government
find their grip on power slowly slipping away as the return of Christ
draws near. One of the lead characters from the previous film, David Michaels (played by William Wellman Jr.), is now part of a growing underground movement of Christian
believers trying to stay out of the hands of the government and thus escape execution. The government is using underground agents to infiltrate this movement. David's mission is to travel across a nuclear-devastated landscape to Albuquerque where he will meet with other underground believers to await the final return of Christ. The earth by this time is populated by doomsday people, mutant
s as a result of the nuclear exchanges. After rescuing one of them, Jimmy, David leads him to Christ. Jimmy later dies to save the others from Jerry, bravely, leaving Jerry their temporary captive.
Connie Wright (played by Terri Lynn Hall) is a government agent pretending to be a Christian. She rescues David from his internment at Unite, then tries to get David to reveal the believers' secret hideout. Along the way, they rescue Linda and her daughter, Jody. Linda is a scientific researcher, brilliant, but terrified. Jody is a spoiled brat who, after being told off by Jimmy, begins to change. She even starts to slowly accept David's preaching. The same cannot be said of Linda, who is too rational a scientist to accept David's faith. However, Linda is actually evidence of divine providence, because her scientific specialty is radiation, so as they travel through the war-ravaged nation, Linda's knowledge keeps them alive and provides crucial guidance. But it leaves her feeling dreadfully guilty, because she was part of the team that helped create the mutant doomsday people.
David suspects Linda of being a spy, since it seems that the government agents always know where they're at. It turns out, ironically, that she is the only one who is trustworthy, since Jody is discovered to have been transmitting their position surreptitiously, and Connie quite deliberately. Connie is later picked up by a senior UNITE officer (dubbed "General Goon" by David in Image of the Beast). They are soon killed as their van goes out of control and runs into a train. At the end of the movie, however, Jody accepts Christ as her Savior, while Linda still thinks about the matter, or at least she does not yet openly receive Christ on camera.
Meanwhile, a badly wounded and sobbing Jerry is shown in the ruins of the UNITE military base, which is then destroyed by explosions, but not before he rips off his UNITE armband in disgust.
Russell S. Doughten
Russell S. Doughten Jr. is a film-maker and producer of numerous Christian short films and feature-length movies. His film work is credited under numerous variations of his name: with or without the "Jr." suffix or middle initial, and sometimes using the informal "Russ" instead of "Russell". ...
and directed by Donald W. Thompson. It is the fourth in a series of at least five films (one still in production) based on an evangelical interpretation of Bible prophecy
Bible prophecy
Bible prophecy or biblical prophecy is the prediction of future events based on the action, function, or faculty of a prophet. Such passages are widely distributed throughout the Bible, but those most often cited are from Ezekiel, Daniel, Matthew 24, Matthew 25, and Revelation.Believers in biblical...
and the rise of the Antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
. Unlike the other films in the series which were filmed in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, this one was filmed in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
During the final years of the reign of the Antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
, a nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
has devastated the earth and the Antichrist and his world government
World government
World government is the notion of a single common political authority for all of humanity. Its modern conception is rooted in European history, particularly in the philosophy of ancient Greece, in the political formation of the Roman Empire, and in the subsequent struggle between secular authority,...
find their grip on power slowly slipping away as the return of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
draws near. One of the lead characters from the previous film, David Michaels (played by William Wellman Jr.), is now part of a growing underground movement of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
believers trying to stay out of the hands of the government and thus escape execution. The government is using underground agents to infiltrate this movement. David's mission is to travel across a nuclear-devastated landscape to Albuquerque where he will meet with other underground believers to await the final return of Christ. The earth by this time is populated by doomsday people, mutant
Mutant (fictional)
The concept of a mutant is a common trope in comic books and science fiction. The new phenotypes that appear in fictional mutations generally go far beyond what is typically seen in biological mutants, and often result in the mutated life form exhibiting superhuman abilities or qualities.-Marvel...
s as a result of the nuclear exchanges. After rescuing one of them, Jimmy, David leads him to Christ. Jimmy later dies to save the others from Jerry, bravely, leaving Jerry their temporary captive.
Connie Wright (played by Terri Lynn Hall) is a government agent pretending to be a Christian. She rescues David from his internment at Unite, then tries to get David to reveal the believers' secret hideout. Along the way, they rescue Linda and her daughter, Jody. Linda is a scientific researcher, brilliant, but terrified. Jody is a spoiled brat who, after being told off by Jimmy, begins to change. She even starts to slowly accept David's preaching. The same cannot be said of Linda, who is too rational a scientist to accept David's faith. However, Linda is actually evidence of divine providence, because her scientific specialty is radiation, so as they travel through the war-ravaged nation, Linda's knowledge keeps them alive and provides crucial guidance. But it leaves her feeling dreadfully guilty, because she was part of the team that helped create the mutant doomsday people.
David suspects Linda of being a spy, since it seems that the government agents always know where they're at. It turns out, ironically, that she is the only one who is trustworthy, since Jody is discovered to have been transmitting their position surreptitiously, and Connie quite deliberately. Connie is later picked up by a senior UNITE officer (dubbed "General Goon" by David in Image of the Beast). They are soon killed as their van goes out of control and runs into a train. At the end of the movie, however, Jody accepts Christ as her Savior, while Linda still thinks about the matter, or at least she does not yet openly receive Christ on camera.
Meanwhile, a badly wounded and sobbing Jerry is shown in the ruins of the UNITE military base, which is then destroyed by explosions, but not before he rips off his UNITE armband in disgust.