The First Omen is a prequel to a series of films that began in 1976 with The Omen. With a feature directorial debut by Arkasha Stevenson and a mainly fresh cast of faces, this is an effective setup of the rise of dark power.
It is Rome in 1971, a time of social unrest and violence when Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) arrives from the states to take her vows of sisterhood. She befriends a troubled teen girl who has an aura of trauma. There is an earlier scene that tells of a female child borne for one, unholy purpose at adulthood. A feeling of something evil permeates the air as Margaret discovers some terrifying truths about the church while she is plagued by nightmarish visions driving her to question her own sanity.
Despite outward appearances of a nurturing environment, there are hints of a growing fear and even conspiracy that involves the clergy. The Omen films were notable for depicting graphic, even spectacular deaths, and there is an element of that here. However this story attempts to build an insidious plot to bring into the world the Antichrist for power and to control that power, an interesting twist on the original premise. There are a number of misdirects but you know where this is all going. Soon it is hard to know who to trust as the film finally reveals its horrifying truths and a traumatic birthing scene that rivals the one in Prometheus.
This
film is better than you might think, and it does a pretty good job especially toward the end as it links up with
the original Omen film. It will
resonate with fans of these films who are familiar with the lore.
****
of ***** stars (for Omen purists)
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