The Omen (film series)
THE OMEN (18)
A British politician and his wife adopt a child who shows signs of diabolical motivations and later emerges to be the antichrist.
One of the reasons it has become such an iconic film of its genre has to be due to Jerry Goldsmith's sinister use of music, utilising a Latin chorus to give a sense of otherworldly dread (the legendary composer was rewarded with his only Oscar for his music on this film). The performances are also top notch, particularly from Gregory Peck & Lee Remick as the husband and wife who are redundant from stopping the evil power of a small child.
The final shot still remains one of the creepiest images dedicated to film.
Sequels, Damien: Omen II and The Final Conflict followed in 1978 and 1981, respectively, as well as a terrible TV movie (Omen IV) in 1991, featuring a female antichrist.
THE FINAL CONFLICT: OMEN III (18)
D: Graham Baker
20th Century Fox (Harvey Bernhard)
UK/US 1981
108 mins
Horror
W: Andrew Birkin [based on characters created by David Seltzer]
DP: Phil Meheux & Robert Paynter
Ed: Alan Strachan
Mus: Jerry Goldsmith
Sam Neill (Damien Thorn), Lisa Harrow (Kate Reynolds), Rossano Brazzi (Father DeCarlo), Don Gordon (Harvey Playdell Dean), Barnaby Holm (Peter Reynolds)
Now in adulthood, Damien Thorn has manipulated his way into a position of power, taking over the ambassador role that his adoptive father held in the original 1976 film.
Those who challenge him meet their grizzly end, and Damien challenges his followers to murder first born male children across the United Kingdom.
Sam Neill is well cast as the adult Damien, but having the Antichrist being portrayed as an adult rather than a child is far less unsettling than the atmosphere that lingered over the first two films.
The weakest of the original trilogy, but still a decent horror film on its individual merits.
6/10
OMEN IV: THE AWAKENING (15)
D: Jorge Montesi & Dominique Othenin-Girard
Fox / FNM Films (Harvey Bernhard & Robert J. Anderson)
US 1991
97 mins
Horror
W: Brian Taggert [based on characters created by David Seltzer]
DP: Martin Fuhrer
Ed: Frank Irvine
Mus: Jonathan Sheffer
Faye Grant (Karen York), Michael Woods (Gene York), Asia Vieira (Della York), Michael Lerner (Earl Knight), Madison Mason (Dr. Lou Hastings)
Made for television, although it did review a small cinema release in some countries, this fourth film in The Omen series is practically a remake of the first film, though switching a boy as the child of the Antichrist to a girl, the granddaughter of the original Damien character, adopted by a pair of attorneys when creepy happenings occur.
The violence is toned down immensely for this one, almost to the point that it’s a mild thriller than a horror, or at least a horror movie for the easily squeamish.
The performances are serviceable, but it’s clear to see from all the production aspects that this was for a television audience.
4/10
THE OMEN (18)
Miscast, boring and needless remake of the 1976 movie which uses the same script but manages to lose all the tension, thrills and sense of foreboding dread.
It seems it was only made to coincide with the release date of 06/06/06.
One wonders how much intelligence it took for a Hollywood executive to think up that slice of 'absolute genius'. 🙄
Skip this version, watch the original, which still maintains its grittiness and frightful tension 30 years on.
