The Prodigal Planet

The Prodigal Planet

Year: 1983

Runtime: 127 mins

Language: English

Director: Donald W. Thompson

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The end‑times saga continues. A fundamentalist Christian guerrilla, slated for execution by the Antichrist’s forces, is saved by an Antichrist operative posing as a double‑agent for the Believers’ Underground. The operative plans to use the guerrilla to locate the dissidents’ hidden base, while Armageddon and the Second Coming loom.

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Timeline & Setting – The Prodigal Planet (1983)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Prodigal Planet (1983). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

End-times / Post-apocalyptic future

The film is set in the final years of the Antichrist's reign after a nuclear war devastates the Earth. Society is split between a controlling government and underground believers who rely on faith to persevere. Radiation hazards and constant danger frame every moment as characters strive toward a foretold event.

Location

Albuquerque, United States, UNITE military base

Set in a nuclear-devastated United States, the story follows a secret Christian underground fighting to stay hidden from a repressive world government. An RV journey through ruined cities leads toward Albuquerque, a gathering point for believers awaiting prophecy’s fulfillment. The setting is dominated by radiation, mutant survivors, and collapsing infrastructure, underscoring a world in ruins but still haunted by faith.

❄️ Post-apocalypse 🗺️ Underground movement

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:56

Main Characters – The Prodigal Planet (1983)

Meet the key characters of The Prodigal Planet (1983), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

David Michaels (William Wellman Jr.)

Leader of the underground believers, David coordinates a dangerous cross-country mission in an RV to reach Albuquerque and join others waiting for Jesus's return. He remains cautious but determined, navigating government infiltration and life-threatening obstacles with steady resolve. His actions aim to protect the group and maintain hope in a shattered world.

🗺️ Leader 🎯 Mission 🛡️ Courage

Connie Wright (Terri Lynn Hall)

A government agent posing as a Christian to uncover the believers’ secret hideout. She rescues David from UNITE confinement but seeks to extract the group’s location, using deception as a tactic. Her duplicity heightens danger for everyone and she ultimately dies in a van crash during the escape.

🕵️‍♀️ Infiltration 🔒 Secrecy 🚨 Betrayal

Linda (Lynda Beatie)

A brilliant radiation scientist who previously helped create the mutants, Linda's knowledge keeps the group alive amid radiation hazards. She is rational and cautious, often clashing with faith-driven perspectives while quietly becoming part of the journey toward spiritual questions. Her scientific expertise is crucial for survival, even as she grapples with moral implications of her past work.

🔬 Scientist 🧬 Radiation

Jodi (Cathy Wellman)

Linda's daughter, initially spoiled but gradually influenced by Jimmy and the group's experiences. She begins to change as the journey unfolds and shows openness to faith, moving toward a more hopeful future by the film's end.

🎯 Transformation 💖 Family

Jimmy (Robert Chestnut)

A rescued mutant doomsday survivor who acts with courage to protect others. He sacrifices himself to save the group, becoming a catalyst for deeper faith among the survivors before his death.

💔 Sacrifice 🛡️ Courage

Jerry Bradford (Thom Rachford)

One of the principal antagonists whose ruthlessness drives conflict with the underground believers. His actions propel the chase and his arc concludes amid the ruin of the UNITE base, where he is ultimately overcome.

⚔️ Antagonist 💥 Destruction

Reverend Matthew Turner (Russ Doughten)

A religious figure who appears within the cast, providing spiritual texture and perspective amid the apocalyptic struggle.

🙏 Spiritual guide 🕊️ Faith

Narrator (Bob Henry)

The narration frames the journey through the devastated landscape, guiding the audience through key events and moral quandaries.

🎙️ Narration

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:56

Major Themes – The Prodigal Planet (1983)

Explore the central themes of The Prodigal Planet (1983), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

✝️ Faith vs Oppression

Believers work underground to avoid capture by a surveillance state, showing faith as a driving force in a hostile world. David's mission to carry the gospel across the wasteland demonstrates perseverance under pressure and risk. The film contrasts empirical fear with spiritual conviction, especially as Linda's scientific mindset tests but ultimately aligns with faith when facing the unknown. Across perilous miles, hope and steadfast belief guide the characters toward a promised future.

🕵️‍♀️ Trust and Deception

Connie Wright pretends to be a Christian to infiltrate the believers, highlighting the fragility of trust in a surveillance state. The group must navigate constant threats as information leaks threaten their secrecy. David's suspicion of others and the revelation of betrayals create tense moral choices. The climax shows how discernment and loyalty decide who survives the pursuit.

🌱 Redemption and Change

Jimmy sacrifices himself to save the others, catalyzing a shift in Jody toward faith. Jerry's ruthless drive to crush the underground forces exposes the cost of power in a ruined world. The near-collapse of the UNITE base and the final moments of the protagonists suggest redemption can emerge even from violence and fear. By the ending, Jody accepts Jesus as savior, while Linda wrestles with belief, leaving the question of faith open.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:56

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The Prodigal Planet Summary

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The Prodigal Planet Summary

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The Prodigal Planet Timeline

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