The Omen (1976)

Cults love the Devil and they try their best to see that his son is raised proper and safely, getting the best education and having all of the preferred opportunities available for him. In “Rosemary’s Baby” we saw that the cult chose a loving mother and made sure that she had a proper diet and the best prenatal care in the city. The sentiment is shared and continues in “The Omen”. In this film, the cult that is much more behind the scenes itself than in the movie, finds a well-connected  politician with unlimited potential to be his “father”, to see that young Damien grows up to follow in his footsteps and fulfill the prophecy that has been foretold. And like”Rosemary’s Baby”, “The Omen” is a highly regarded horror film and is often thought of as one of the genre’s finest. Some even argue that it is the best film from 1976.

Robert Thorn and his wife Katherine are in Rome when she gives birth to their first child. Robert is told that his son had died immediately after his delivery but is given the race chance to claim a different newborn whose mother just died during childbirth. Feeling compassionate and also worried as to how his wife would take the news about their own child, Robert agrees to Father Spiletto’s (a cult member!) offer and makes a vow of secrecy and claims the baby Damien as his own. Shortly after this Robert is promoted and becomes the US Ambassador to Great Britain.

Strange events occur throughout Damien’s childhood with the most chilling of them being the happy, joyful hanging of his nanny (a cult member!) at his well-attended 5^th birthday party, yelling out to the crowd “Damien, I do this for you!” before leaping off the edge of the house with a noose around her neck. Just as suspicious and yet not nearly as creepy is the new nanny (a cult member!) who comes into the Thorn home and takes a strict protective stance towards young Damien, going so far as to killing Katherine and attempting to kill Robert when he comes to slay the son of the Anti-Christ.

Favorite moment – The scene when Keith is killed by the sheet of glass. This is an impressive effect for that time and it was a real surprise.

What is really interesting about this film is it's star, Gregory Peck. No one ever considered that someone of his acting calibur would appear in a film like this and his presence really raises the quality of this film greatly. This just goes to show that horror films are not just a genre to begin with and hope to find your break, it's a form or entertainment that offers it's own sense of fulfillment for the actors as well just being fun to be a part of.