The Omen Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)June 14th, 2006
THE OMEN
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2006 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
THE OMEN is a delightful throwback to a time when really good horror movies were more interested in the mystery than the special effects. And when they were more willing to take their time in telling the story than in producing cheap scares with a metronome's predictable regularity. I'm told by those who remember the original 1976 film better than I do this remake tracks closely to the original script.
Extremely well cast, the movie stars Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles as Robert and Katherine Thorn, the parents of a demon child named Damien. The boy actually isn't theirs, since he was switched at birth -- a fact which Robert knows but Katherine doesn't. David Thewlis plays Keith Jennings, a photographer turned investigator who wants to help Robert find the truth before they all die. In a scene-stealing small part, ROSEMARY'S BABY's Mia Farrow plays a syrupy sweet Mrs. Baylock, Damien's second nanny. His first nanny hangs herself at a large party, screaming with delusional joy, "It's all for you, Damien!" Farrow's Mrs. Baylock is hilarious without ever hamming it up for a single moment. She's just creepily funny.
The one small casting mistake comes in the child actor who plays Damien at age five when most of the story is set. Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick proves to be a one-note actor, whose portrayal of Damien removes any ambiguity in his character. A better choice would have been someone who could appear angelic as well as demonic.
Although the film evidences no sense of urgency, characters do die and quite horrifically because of Damien's evil. The plot has to do with Armageddon and "666," the sign of the devil, an ominous birthmark that Damien bears in a hidden part of his anatomy. The most amazing aspect of the picture is that, no matter how inherently silly the plot is, the actors make it all plausible and intriguing. And, when one key character dies, you'll find yourself hoping against hope that the character will be saved at the last minute by someone, anyone.
Although I wasn't scared, there were some teenage boys about eighteen or nineteen in my sparsely attended showing who most certainly were very frightened on several occasion, crying out with real fear. Later, I overheard them talking about how intense and scary they found the film.
With enough thunder and lightning to make you feel like you are in a battlefield, the movie never loses your attention. And the smartly written and acted film always deserves it.
THE OMEN runs 1:50. It is rated R for "disturbing violent content, graphic images and some language" and would be acceptable for most teenagers.
The film is playing in nationwide release now in the United States. In the Silicon Valley, it is showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
