The First Omen review: Horror prequel does what it says on the tin
The new film is a solidly crafted if frequently pedestrian story which is never short on atmosphere.
The makers of reboots, prequels and origin stories are all too aware they’re wielding a double-edged sword. On paper, there is a proven audience warmly receptive to the core aspects of what they’re doing, but it’s an audience that could just as easily turn on them.
Although it’s been some time since 2006’s straight remake of 1976’s The Omen, the devilish franchise’s fans remain devout, and any new film that strays too far from the template is likely to send filmgoers’ heads spinning faster than the wheels on young Damien’s unruly tricycle.
Wisely, The First Omen makes a point of providing a smattering of touchstones to that opening chapter (there’s lots of scaffolding on view), even down to film stock with a faint grain, in keeping with what was used back in the ‘70s.
Director Arkasha Stevenson steers clear of 21st century gloss, to the point where the overall look of the movie borrows from the grimy bygone Euro horrors of, say, Dario Argento.
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The film certainly isn’t short on atmosphere, although the laconic pace of the narrative arguably belongs to another time as well. It demands patience of its viewers, but seeing as most will be aware of its place in the timeline and know what’s coming, it’s safe to assume they’re willing to take the ride.
It’s the early ‘70s (a few years prior to events in the original film) and youth dissent is rife, revolution in the air. In the midst of this trouble and turmoil, the Catholicism of the Omen universe has largely split into two factions; one diligently following the teachings of Christ, while the other gets its kicks on Route 666.
The latter’s game plan is to bring about the birth of the Antichrist, and create a global climate of fear that will send folk rushing back to the comforting bosom of the church. Consequently, a shady cabal has been tasked with finding a young mother to deliver the Satanic saviour.
Our heroine is 21-year-old Margaret (Nell Tiger Free, familiar to Game Of Thrones watchers as Myrcella Baratheon), an American novice nun dispatched to work in an orphanage in Rome, on the recommendation of her mentor Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy in familiarly avuncular mode).
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There, she finds troubled pre-teen Carlita (Nicole Sorace), routinely distanced from the other children, the senior nuns consigning her to “the bad room” to keep her disruptive influence in check. Margaret, whose own orphan history is littered with behavioural problems, thinks the girl is just misunderstood and needs protection rather than punishment.
As Margaret struggles to persuade her elders to spare the rod, she comes into contact with Father Brennan, an ex-communicated Irish priest who believes the child is central to a conspiracy to return The Devil to Earth, and that she’s just the latest in a long line of girls, all named Carlita, and the victims of failed experiments to midwife the Antichrist.
It doesn’t take a degree in theology to see where all this is heading, although Stevenson enjoys distracting us with detours involving Margaret’s fellow novice roommate intent on one last wild-child hurrah in Rome’s nightspots before finally “taking the veil”, and another unhinged nun driven to suicide in a truly over-the-top manner.
The last act plot twist and final scene’s reveal of the name bestowed upon the sinister spawn (see above for a clue) won’t surprise anyone, but with a running time five minutes shy of two hours, it probably takes too long to get there. Earlier ruminations on the role of the church in modern society could have been expanded upon, at the expense of one or two of the many scenes of Margaret staring forlornly at the world around her.
Ultimately, we only get broad hints of the war raging between good and evil, resulting in a solidly crafted if frequently pedestrian story. The First Omen does what it says on the tin, but not much more.
The First Omen is released in UK cinemas on Friday 5th April 2024. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
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