2024 prequel movie first omen (2024) stands out for one reason. It takes pleasure in whacking its audience over the head. Suffering from the syndrome of not believing that people watching your film will “get it.”
Arkasha Stevenson directed and co-wrote the precursor to the 1976 seminal horror film omen. * Released on June 6, 1976, it can be called “groundbreaking”. His co-star is also Hollywood royalty: Lee Remick.
*Side note: This movie stars Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles as politicians who discover their children have numbers on their heads. While it’s fun, it doesn’t replicate the original.
Sadly, neither first omen.
story
Margaret returns to the orphanage where she began her life. The factory is located in Italy. This young American woman was about to begin her life of service in the church when her life came as a shock.
behind the camera
Stevenson does a good enough job of connecting the dots. However, as stated in the opening paragraph, he went too far. However, the ending of the film is still very exciting. It literally gave me goosebumps. However, the extension beyond the taxi ride was a bit much. I could be wrong, but the first The Omen is a classic. The extra ramming of our faces into it was unnecessary.
The visual effects are great, though. Kudos to the weathervane shot from the original that’s almost replicated here.
Cinematographer Aaron Morton brings us a dark visual feast. Amy E. Duddleston and Bob Murawski’s editing is almost surgically precise for a horror film.
go back in time
the look and feel of first omen is correct. As someone who was born in 1968, this feels so real. The plight of cars, fashion, politics and the church are brilliantly presented in the film.
Cast
Nell Tiger Free plays Margaret.
Ralph Ineson plays Father Brannan.
Sonia Braga is Sister Silva.
Tawfeek Barhom is Father Gabriel.
Maria Caballero is Luz.
Charles Dance plays Father Harris.
Bill Nighy plays Cardinal Lawrence.
Nicole Sorace plays Kalita.
Ishtar Currie-Wilson is Sister Angelica.
Andrea Arcangeli plays Paul.
Casting is the king and queen
First off; starring Charles Dance and Bill Nighy at the same time is a huge achievement first omen. Freedom shines as the innocent newbie goes home to take their vows. Braga was formidable, and Ineson was a perfect fit for the excommunicated cleric.
Sorace as the “wounded” Carlita and Arcangeli as the doomed Paolo are impressive.
The standout here, however, is Corey Wilson’s performance as Sister Angelica. She stole the pants off the audience that they will always love. Although she did replace “The Nanny” in the ’76 movie. That said; the old thing about jumping out of a window with a rope around your neck is still shocking.
question
Stevenson grabs our noses and leads us through first omen Like a blind child. He doesn’t allow us the chance to pick out even the most banal of clues. We go down an almost redundant path, since it’s obvious from the first reel where the movie is going.
It does work, albeit poorly. We feel Margaret’s fear, pain, and determination. We just don’t need to be hit with a plot that’s a foregone conclusion.
judgment
first omen Easily 3.5 stars. While it’s slightly better than the three original trilogy films; the last one starring a much younger Sam Neill, it only manages to keep its metaphorical head above water. Currently streaming on Hulu.
trailer
Relevant
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