The Omen (1976)

 

    Good evening everyone! Hope this weekend has been fun or at least refreshing in some way. Time has certainly been feeling slower with winter right around the corner but we'll get through this together.

    If you haven't noticed already, we're finally getting around to the winning film of October/Halloween and the winner is a classic: The Omen. Thank you to everyone that has participated!

    Can't say I vividly remember when I first watched it but it had to be around high school some years after the remake came out in 2006 when it came to my attention. I've also watched the remake but it's been so long that I also can't remember what I thought of it. Like most remakes, I'm positive it wasn't enjoyable as the original but if anyone is interested in a review, feel free to let me know. 

    The Omen was released in June 2006 (with the UK having an earlier release date than the US) and was directed by Richard Donner. The film stars Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Harvey Spencer Stevens, Billie Whiteclaw, among many others. Although not the first in the 70s, it was still a heavily criticized horror film by the Christian/Catholic community for its anti-religious portrayal and its many inaccuracies surrounding the end times. It is said the film is cursed due to the amout of near misses of lightning strikes on both the actors and crew members but it made good press. Jerry Goldsmith, the composer of the film's score, won an Oscar out of 18 nominations for his contribution. The plot was debated between Donner and Seltzer, the film's writer, due to its ambiguous message that it was either undoubtedly the work of the antichrist or just a series of unfortunate events. The film runs for a total of 111 minutes.

    Robert Thorn is told his wife, Kathy, just gave birth to their son. However, the child did not survive. Unbeknownst to her, Robert is convinced to take the child of a woman that died during labor. Robert and Kathy move forward by spending the next five years happily raising Damien until his behavior becomes erratic and violent. Robert is then approached by the man who convinced him to take Damien and tells him the child is the Antichrist.

    The decade with a turning point in acting, in my opinion, has to be the 1970s where self-expression and rapid dialogue were among its main components. In The Omen, acting is its biggest asset as all the actors were proficient and free-flowing in their roles. Cinematography is the film's second best strong point with unique, yet personal stills. Every angle was artistic and carefully crafted with unforgettable detail. Catholicism/religion as a film's main tool is a hit-or-miss for many but it was a commercial success in the 70s like its predecessors The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby despite its many inaccuracies. Even so, one can come to appreciate the Catholic imagery and outrageous truth bending. It also aids in providing an ominous atmosphere, also being a very 70's characteristic and one done right. It is a faster-paced film and one with great detail that could be seen either way: straight to the point but not enough time to digest it all without burning out. Of all the times I've watched it, I never fail to begin drifting off at the exact same point in the story. The length of the film could have been shortened by a few minutes and still would have been as amazing. The phrase "too much of anything is bad" rings true even for lengthy horror films. Of the few horror reviews I've done on this blog, the score on The Omen is perhaps my favorite of all of them as it heightens and adds flavor to every scene.

    While lengthy, the plot is considered unique at the time of its inception and release that still grabs a hold on its audience wihout overstimulating or exploiting. Violence and gore are kept to a minimum but safe to enjoy. Providing excellent cinematography and iconic death scenes, The Omen is a true psycholigcal horror classic. It is best enjoyed on your own on a lonely Saturday, with the patience of a saint, so that you don't miss a beat.

    

My overall rating is 7.5/10 based on:

-Acting

-Cinematography

-Catholicism

-Themes of the "End Times"

-Score

-Iconic death scenes

-Setting/location

    Thank you for reading! It's always a good time watching The Omen and I couldn't be happier it was the winning film for October as it was incredibly fitting. The next review is currently in the works and is a film I've never heard of. It was also recommended by a long-time Facebook friend.

    Feel free to send any recommendations my way, as always.

Stay safe and make wise decisions!

-CL