Before the 2024 The First Omen came out, I went back and watched the original 1976, Gregory Peck and Lee Remick starring Omen as well as the 2006, Liev Schrieber and Julia Stiles remake as The First Omen is a prequel to both of those movies. Today I am looking at the 1976 original and I think that this is a classic horror movie that really holds up.
How to Download The Omen (1976)
You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice.
The Movie Review
We have a married couple in Robert and Katherine Thorn and they are in Rome. Katherine is pregnant, and the child is stillborn, but they are talked into adopting a baby who was born at the same time, and whose mother passed during childbirth. At first, it seems like a miracle, they lost their own son, but they were blessed with being able to look after another one, although the way Robert goes about this is less than honest let me just say that!
Well, turns out that this delightful little baby that they call Damien is the son of Satan, the Antichrist, the one to bring about the end of days! I just love the whole story, lore, premise, and everything about Damien. As a kid, I had a high tolerance for horror movies, but there was always something about Damien that creeped the hell out of me as a kid and he is still super creepy now.
Creepy Vibe and Dark Premonitions
Their imagined blissful family life turns into an absolute nightmare. The Thorns start to notice some really weird and messed up stuff happening. There are gruesome deaths and as I said, Damien is creepy as hell. Robert ends up finding out the truth about Damien and ends up getting some help to try and stop the Antichrist. As you would expect, this is easier said than done, and as there are several sequels to the original Omen, you know how his quest goes!
I think that The Omen is a damn fine movie and a movie that I have seen several times over the years. It is rather interesting to me that this was not really a big hit with the critics when it was originally released, but it has become an iconic horror movie over the years. It is a movie that I have a ton of love and respect for and it was one of the few horror movies that I saw as a kid which truly did send a shiver down my spine. Even though I know what is going to happen, the creepy vibe of Damien and who he is still gets me.
A Quick Comparison with the 2006 Remake
Now, I do not know if I will ever get around to reviewing the 2006 Omen, but I thought I would do a quick comparison. This may sound like sacrilege to some, but I ever so slightly prefer the 2006 movie. They are both pretty much the same movie with many of the same scenes, but I just feel that the modern take on the movie looks better and flows better. Hey, I would not argue with anyone who said they preferred the original. However, if I had to watch The Omen, I would choose to watch the 2006 version.
