Movie: The Omen
Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Gregory Peck, Lee Remick and Harvey Stephens
Rating: ***1/2
Richard Donner’s all-time horror classic “The Omen” is most definitely one of the best spiritual themed horror flicks involving Satanism. This may come as a surprise to many, but “The Omen” is undoubtedly superior to “The Exorcist”, as it was more engaging and strictly sinister. Besides all the thrills and chills, Jerry Goldsmith’s nerve-wrecking and haunting background score breathes life into this film.
When Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck), the American ambassador comes to learn that his newborn has died, he substitutes the dead baby with another child that lost its mother in labor during the same time. As Robert and Katherine see their son Damien age, they encounter strange happenings in their lives. Meanwhile, a priest comes uninvitingly into the life of Mr. Thorn, and warns him about what’s about to unfold if his son, the anti-Christ, is not killed. What’s the horrifying truth about Damien’s birth and why should he be killed forms the rest of the story?
What you don’t see in this film is scarier than what you typically see in every other horror flick. I think that’s precisely the strength of the film – to play with the intellect and ultimately provide the kind of experience you don’t get from any other film. The basic premise of the film is unleashed quite early on, but Donner makes you wait to find out what’s about to eventually lead to an explosive climax.
The suspense in the film syncs in gradually at a pace one can enjoy initially, but at one juncture you begin to feel intimidated as you patiently wait for it all to end. The film stays away from depicting too much of goriness and that’s something you hardly get to see in horror films, which usually tend to throw too much of blood on screen. If you were to make a giant list of must-have elements in a movie, then you’re likely to find all of that in this film.
The performances were top cast and it’s very unlikely to dislike any character. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick as the Thorn couple portray happiness, tragedy and fear with much conviction, while Billie Whitelaw as straight-faced and cunning Mrs. Baylock is a treat to watch in the kind of role you may not root for but may likely appreciate for the effort. And lastly, not to forget, Damien aka Harvey Stephens, who unlike many child artistes, didn’t happen to grow up to become an actor, but played a role in 2006 version “The Omen”.
The film works solely on the fact that at the end it presents a logical rationale, but not some nonsensical explanation that are commonly used by films in this genre. If I were to reiterate on one of the film’s stronger points, then it definitely has to be the score by Goldsmith. It has to be heard and experienced to appreciate the composition.
