I have tried hard over the years to love Richard Donner's The Omen (1976) but never quite been able to get there -- there are bits to love (all of the death scenes are absolutely bonkers in the best ways) but for me it's never risen above being the bastard step-child of the masterpieces Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist. I don't think I've ever even bothered to watch the sequels.
But the good critical word on this year's prequel The First Omen called my name -- as did its ridiculously stacked cast, with Bill Nighy and Ralph Ineson and Sonia f'ing Braga and Servant-fave Nell Tiger Free most of all -- and I'm glad it did! Because y'all -- The First Omen rules. Gorgeously lensed, wonderfully performed, and deviously deliciously nasty every chance it gets, director Arkasha Stevenson (who worked on cult horror series faves Channel Zero and Brand New Cherry Flavor) made a slithering sinister little monster of a movie that deserves all the love and (belated) attention it can get.
It's now available to rent and I believe that it hits Hulu on Thursday,
so if you missed it in theaters like I did fix your damn mistake!
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5 comments:
The deaths in Damien are equally bonkers, plus Lee Grant is fantastic.
Unsurprisingly not being much of a horror guy I'm not much of a fan of either the original Omen or the sequel but my love of the dueling Lees (the sadly departed Miss Remick and the still with us Miss Grant) got me to watch each once. Both films are missing that special element that the best fright flicks such as The Exorcist have, but the first Omen is still miles ahead of most of the junk that was churned out in the wake of that trend setter. I have zero interest in the new iteration though.
Meh, this looks stupid as fuck!
Sonia Braga is unrecognizable
This movie is shot like 'A Quiet Place'. There are so many moments where you get fleeting glimpses of what is stalking, ...but just glimpses. and all the demonic details are held off until the crescendo of the birth. and then ...WOW.
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