The Omen

The Omen was obviously made as a reactionary cash grab to the success of the Exorcist, but hey the motivation does not matter if the end result is a good film. That's the case here. I don't think it reaches the heights of that earlier film, but this is a rather chilling horror film in its own right. There is such a palatable atmosphere of dread throughout and it feels like the devil is at play in every scene. That birthday sequence in particular is so disturbing by just how simply it is played. As the film proceeds it gets more bombastic but does not fall off the rails. This is largely because of the main performances in the film with Gregory Peck and David Warner both adding some needed weight to the proceedings, as well as Billie Whitelaw who manages to find just the perfect place of being oh so off putting without becoming absurd. Then of course there is the score, that score is legendary for a reason. You hear that music and one has to instantly think of the devil. I won't say The Omen quite adds up to a great film, but it adds up to a very good one.
4.5/5