Damien: Omen II (1978)
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43% of critics liked it
(21 reviews) -
54% of users liked it
(50,214 ratings)
Satan's son comes of age in this horror sequel. Shortly after the events of The Omen, a pair of anthropologists uncovers an ancient crypt that depicts the face of the Antichrist -- that of Damien Thorn (Jonathan Scott-Taylor), recently orphaned scion of a wealthy industrialist. Before they can… More Satan's son comes of age in this horror sequel. Shortly after the events of The Omen, a pair of anthropologists uncovers an ancient crypt that depicts the face of the Antichrist -- that of Damien Thorn (Jonathan Scott-Taylor), recently orphaned scion of a wealthy industrialist. Before they can warn the world of the child's evil lineage, both men are buried under tons of rubble. Seven years later, 13-year-old Damien attends military school alongside his cousin, Mark (Lucas Donat), and spends lots of time with his adoptive parents, Uncle Richard (William Holden) and Aunt Ann (Lee Grant). After the boy's Great Aunt Marion (Sylvia Sidney) tries to convince the Thorns that Damien is a malevolent influence on Mark, she dies suddenly, and, unbeknownst to the family, horrifically. Ravens, it seems, are the harbingers of Damien's power, and in addition to Aunt Marion, they visit a long procession of characters who get too close to Damien's true identity. The most horrible death is suffered by Joan Hart (Elizabeth Shepherd), an investigative reporter who's digging into the boy's life; she gets flattened by a truck after having her eyes devoured by those menacing birds. Meanwhile, executive Paul Buher (Robert Foxworth) climbs the corporate ladder at Thorn Industries and takes young Damien under his devil-worshiping wings. Sgt. Neff (Lance Henriksen), one of the boy's instructors, also helps initiate Damien. As the pile of bodies gets bigger -- and closer -- Uncle Richard begins to suspect the truth, and, like his brother before him, plot the death of Damien. The existence of another sequel, 1981's The Final Conflict, gives a good indication of the outcome. Although Damien: Omen II is his only Hollywood feature credit, Scott-Taylor appeared frequently in the theater and on television; he once even portrayed Damien's arch-nemesis, Jesus, on-stage. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- Directed By
- Don Taylor
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Horror
- In Theaters
- Jun 9, 1978 Wide
- Studio
- 20th Century Fox
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Damien is obviously wearing out his welcome.
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, Time Out
This sequel lacks the bravura pacing of the original, and though it tries to maintain the biblical tone in following the adolescence of its antichrist anti-hero, immense problems emerge.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
Damien-Omen II though it's as foolish as the first film, is rather more fun to watch and sometimes very stylish-looking.
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...comes off as a surprisingly organic follow-up to its 1976 predecessor...
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Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
As the teenage Damien, Jonathan Scott-Taylor works wonders with the role
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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William Holden
as Richard Thorn
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Lee Grant
as Ann Thorn
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Jonathan Scott-Taylor
as Damien Thorn
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Robert Foxworth
as Paul Buller
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Lucas Donat
as Mark Thorn
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Lew Ayres
as Bill Atherton
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Sylvia Sidney
as Aunt Marion
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Nicholas Pryor
as Charles Warren
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Lance Henriksen
as Sgt. Neff
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Elizabeth Shepherd
as Joan Hart
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Allan Arbus
as Pasarian
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Fritz Ford
as Murray
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Meshach Taylor
as Dr. Kane
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John Charles Burns
as Butler
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Paul Cook
as Colonel
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Robert Ingham
as Teacher
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Leo McKern
as Bugenhagen
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John Newcombe
as Teddy
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Felix Shuman
as Dr. Fiedler
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James Spinks
as Technician
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William Fosser
as Minister
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Jerome Anthony Hawkins
as Pasarian's Assistant
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Rusdi Lane
as Jim
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Thomas O. Erhart Jr.
as Sergeant
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Diane Daniels
as Jane
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Russell P. Delia
as Truck Driver
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Judith Dowd
as Maid
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Corney Morgan
as Greenhouse Technicican
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Charles Mountain
as Burial Priest
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Cornelia Sanders
as Young Girl
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Owen Sullivan
as Byron
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William J. Whelehan
as Security Guard


