 |
| Images courtesy 20th Century Pictures |
As a lifelong fan of The
Omen series, I have learned to lower my expectations for each film that has
followed the 1976 original.The 1976 is a nice slow burn with great performances
all around that leaves a lasting impression. No small feat considering that
this was released after The Exorcist
and Rosemary’s Baby. I can recall
being terrified just from hearing Jerry Goldsmith’s score. Add into this mix
being brought up in a deeply devout Christian household and we’ve got a recipe
for pure End Times prophecy and baby Anti-Christ terror.
All that being said, director Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen had a lot of ground to
cover. Longtime fans had deep concerns about how this might play considering
the lore established by the first 3 films,and David Seltzer’s novelization. It
also needs to be said that Seltzer has stated that not one person from The First Omen’s production had reached
out to him about using his characters in a new film. So, naturally I had some
preconceived notions about what I was sitting down to watch.
I was wrong. From the outset, this film sets itself apart by
consistently using imagery that is aimed at a female audience. There is a not
too subtle showing of the different stages in a hetero woman’s life, from
childhood, bride, mother, old age. Prior movies in the series only touch on the
roles of women in the rearing & protection of children, and gaslight the
women if they question their purpose. The
First Omen is laser focused on the experience and expectations of women in
both religion and society, the penalties and rewards which swiftly follow are
of course of little consequence when goals are achieved. And even though a few
are involved, when the time comes, men are simply observers in these events.
They are very clearly out of their depth. Aside from linking to the 1976 film,
the men in this film are completely unnecessary and The First Omen could have
been just fine without them.
There are some jump scares in this film for sure. It is certainly more bloody, though not gory, than prior in the series. The most uncomfortable scenes are designed to do exactly that and keep you guessing if you really are seeing what you think you are, right up until the climax of the film. Actress Nell Tiger Free does a great job of carrying each scene without overdoing it. I’d go so far as to say each performer lets the inevitability of the story do the heavy lifting and lend themselves to the better aspects of the series.
The First Omen shines like
the first one and Damien: Omen II, we
know where the story is going, but good storytelling, like a good prophecy,
lets us tease out more from it.
-Rudy Garza