Written by Jennifer
April 15, 2010
I believe this is what you would call a horror movie with class.
I reserved a copy of The Omen that became available on June 6th. The movie itself, and all the trouble in it, also begins on June 6th. Coincidence? I certainly hope so.
On this night, at 6:00, Kathy Thorn (Lee Remick) gives birth to a son in Rome. Her husband, Robert (Gregory Peck), is told that the boy has died, but he's in luck—there's another newborn boy they can have instead! It's a simple switch, and no one has to know—not even Kathy! It's the kind thing to do, really. He can save his wife some heartbreak, and give the poor kid a home. Robert concedes, and they name their "son" Damien. Too bad he's the Anti-Christ.
The evil nature of the little boy is not readily apparent until his nanny glazes over during a birthday party, wanders off, and reappears on the roof. "It's all for you, Damien!" she calls sweetly, then hangs herself in front of all the guests. A large unpleasant dog also shows up on this day, followed by Mrs. Baylock (Billie Whitelaw), the "replacement nanny". Things only get creepier from here, and trust me, Mrs. Baylock wasn't sent by any agency.
Mr. Thorn is warned several times about Damien's nature, but he dismisses it as rubbish. He doesn't want to believe what's happening, even when Kathy begins to feel she's going crazy. It seems that she feels Damien is "evil" and "not hers". Uh oh.
After Damien nearly kills his mother, Mr. Thorn is moved to investigate. He teams up with a photographer who has further evidence that something fishy is going on, (as if Damien's fear of churches, strange affect on zoo animals, and general freakiness weren't enough) and they head back to Rome. There they unearth prophecies of the coming of the Anti-Christ, discover that the Thorn's baby was murdered, and that Damien's mother may have been a dog! As U.S. ambassador to Great Britain, and possible future U.S. president, Robert Thorn was singled out to raise Satan's son for his pipeline to power! It's clear that Damien must die, but can Mr. Thorn take the life of a child? Scarily enough, the answer is not really in his hands.
The Omen is a tightly written film that reminds us what good horror movies are all about. It shows just enough to shock us, but leaves even more to the imagination. Unlike the characters in most horror films, the Thorns are not expendable. They have a certain dignity, and you truly care what happens to them. Lee Remick is absolutely lovely, and Gregory Peck is both stately and compelling. He never loses his cool, but you can always tell what he's feeling, and it's obvious that he loves his wife.
Though The Omen is spooky and unsettling, it's not the sort of movie that haunts you or permeates your daily life. Really, what are the odds that any of us will have a baby on 6/6 at 6:00? I remember watching it as a little kid, and though I never forgot some of the scenes, I didn't develop any weird phobias or nightmares. I believe this is what you would call a horror movie with class.
