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Prince of Darkness
Centuries ago in the Middle East, the Brotherhood of Sleep—a secret order of the Catholic Church—discovered a massive cylinder containing a swirling green liquid. Hidden even from the Vatican, the relic was eventually moved to Los Angeles and guarded in secrecy. In the present day, the last surviving member of the order dies before warning the cardinal that "the sleeper awakens." A Catholic priest sent to examine his belongings recovers a key that leads him to the cylinder, concealed beneath Saint Goddard's monastery.
The priest enlists quantum physicist Professor Howard Birack to analyze the cylinder. Birack brings along his students: wise-cracking Walter Fong, demure Kelly, the highly-strung Susan Cabot, laid-back Mullins, and lovers Brian Marsh and Catherine Danforth, as well as scientists Calder, Lisa, Etchinson, Lomax, Wyndham, and Dr. Paul Leahy. The priest explains that the liquid's influence is growing and begs Birack to provide scientific proof of its nature to the public before it escapes. Soon after the team arrives, the monastery becomes encircled by increasingly hostile homeless people. Their analysis reveals that the cylinder is at least seven million years old, can only be opened from within, and contains a substance that is prebiotic yet evolving with intent, instead of decaying.
Translating the Brotherhood's ancient texts, Catherine finds references to advanced mathematics predating their known discovery, while Lisa uncovers claims that the cylinder holds Satan, the son of an ancient god who was banished to the dark side. The texts describe Jesus Christ as an extraterrestrial who tried to warn humanity of the cylinder's threat but was executed by those who deemed him insane and too powerful. Birack theorizes that Satan's father may be the Anti-God, an even more powerful being trapped in a parallel realm of anti-matter.
The liquid begins to exert its influence beyond its container, spraying into Susan's mouth and possessing her. She in turn infects or kills other members of the team, while anyone who tries to leave is slaughtered by the enthralled homeless. The survivors realize that, since their arrival, they have experienced a shared dream of a shadowy figure emerging from the monastery. Brian surmises that the dreams are a warning sent from the future using tachyons. Meanwhile, the remaining liquid enters Kelly, transforming her into a monstrous vessel for Satan. Displaying telekinesis and rapid regeneration, Satan attempts to free the Anti-God by reaching through a handheld mirror, but it is too small and the effort fails.
The possessed attack the survivors, while Satan locates a larger mirror, and reaches through, clasping the Anti-God's clawed hand. The priest attacks with an axe, but Satan instantly regenerates and resumes the summoning. Realizing the danger, Catherine tackles Satan into the portal, sacrificing herself. The priest shatters the mirror, sealing Satan, the Anti-God, and, to Brian's horror, Catherine on the other side. Instantly, the possessed die as the liquid evaporates, and the homeless disperse. Brian, Walter, Birack, and the priest are rescued as emergency crews arrive.
Later, Brian dreams once more, this time seeing Catherine as the dark figure emerging from the church. He awakens to find her disfigured body beside him, only to realize it was another nightmare. Shaken, he approaches his mirror, hesitantly reaching out toward its surface.