Featured Audience Ratings

• Jim H

  
  A man and his wife discover that their adopted son is the spawn of Satan. In this addition to the genre of Devil movies, all the normal conventions appear: religion is imbued with a mysterious ethos, evil is perceived as something outside man, and sex and science are demonized… More
  A man and his wife discover that their adopted son is the spawn of Satan. In this addition to the genre of Devil movies, all the normal conventions appear: religion is imbued with a mysterious ethos, evil is perceived as something outside man, and sex and science are demonized (although, it must be said that this facet of devil movies is less pronounced in <i>The Omen</i> than in other films). All this is not to say that <i>The Omen</i> is a bad film, just that it works to normalize a controversial cultural ideology. On the contrary, the film is well-made. The plot unfolds deftly, with few heavy-handed "must-happens," and Gregory Peck gives a strong performance. Richard Donner's direction is clever: most of the evil occurs around Damien rather than because of him, and this reduces most audiences' reticence about seeing a child involved in violence. Overall, this film remains a classic in the Devil movie genre and is well worth a critical eye.

• Directors C

  
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] The 70's brought us a fair amount of ghoulish classics. The masterpiece of all those movies was definitely The Exorcist. Pretty much born only out of the critical and financial success of that movie, The… More
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] The 70's brought us a fair amount of ghoulish classics. The masterpiece of all those movies was definitely The Exorcist. Pretty much born only out of the critical and financial success of that movie, The Omen fails to live up to it's esteemed status. When you compare it to horror cinema of recent years which consists mostly of dumbly unrestrained slashers and the wave of soul crushingly boring "found footage" movies you really recognise the strong performances of the veteran actors and the skill being executed in Richard Donner's inventively scary direction. He manages to produce great tension and cuts down on a lot of gore. But it lacks the unescapable grip and fails to promote the same sheer terror and audience vulnerability that The Exorcist did. I never felt in danger, neither did I find it particularly scary. I didn't jump at any point, or care what happened to the possessed child who is at the centre of the film. It's technically well polished, there isn't anything unspeakably awful about it. I've seen a lot worse recently, but in the end the plot, characters and mystery is taken from another film. I might have enjoyed it more if it tried harder to be something vaguely unique. If you plan on giving into the hype with the convenience of not having seen horror films previously with satanic demon children your likely to have a real blast. But I have, and so have many other cineastes who love watching Gregory Peck stab evil in the chest. It's unremarkable, but not without merit.

• Tyler R

  
  Whatever happened to horror movies where it was a creepy little boy terrorizing people instead of a generic little girl? The Omen is starts off with a guys wife giving birth, but the kid dies, so the parents end up taking another baby whose mother died while giving birth. The only… More
  Whatever happened to horror movies where it was a creepy little boy terrorizing people instead of a generic little girl? The Omen is starts off with a guys wife giving birth, but the kid dies, so the parents end up taking another baby whose mother died while giving birth. The only problem is that the kid happens to be the Antichrist and all hell is about to break loose. After a few gruesome deaths, the dad starts to think that the kid is screwed up in the head and he eventually learns the truth. A lot of people usually don't give this film a lot of credit mainly because it lives in the shadow of The Exorcist. I think that this movie is a lot creepier than most people give it credit for. First off, the mood of the film. There's something about this movie that just feels really ominous. There's this feel that bad things are about to happen and people will die horribly, which is exactly what happens. The birthday party scene where the nanny hangs herself is considered the film's most notable scene. I can see why, crazy chick hangs herself in front of a bunch of children, that's not the type of thing you would want kids seeing while they're at the age where they don't even know what sex is. Another grizzly death scene is when the photographer gets decapitated by a sheet of glass. That scene was actually one of the first decapitation scenes ever filmed and the special effects behind it make it look so convincing. The film is obviously capable of gore and death, but the suspense and creepiness is the best thing about it. The music for the movie is creepy and intense at the same time. When it plays, you know something bad is about to happen. Most of the score is a bunch of demonic chanting and it actually gives me chills. The kid who's the Antichrist is also surprisingly creepy. The kid playing him outdoes all other actors in the movie and that's saying something. Whenever the kid is on screen, there's this feeling of evil. Being the son of Satan, you would think that people would just stay away from him and let him be, but people actually try and confront him. Why? Because they're dumbshits. The thing is that the kid is so formiddable and creepy, that it kind of makes the other characters seem less interesting. I wasn't exactly sad when the parents were off screen to say the least. With the solid direction of the movie by Richard Donner, The Omen plays out as a classic horror film. It's creepy, suspenseful, the acting is good, the movie kept me guessing, it's really ominous. There's also a remake, but it sucks and you should just stick with this one.

• Jeff "

  
  The Omen directed by Richard Donner is a formidable Horror film that features great performances and terrific scares. This is one of the scariest films since 1973's The Exorcist and I also consider it a classic. The cast is a talented bunch of actors including legendary Gregory… More
  The Omen directed by Richard Donner is a formidable Horror film that features great performances and terrific scares. This is one of the scariest films since 1973's The Exorcist and I also consider it a classic. The cast is a talented bunch of actors including legendary Gregory Peck. The Omen features some nerve racking creepy scenes and is an effective Horror to scare you. This is one legendary Horror film that no self respecting horror fan should miss. A stellar cast, an awesome script and brilliant directing By Richard Donner make this film a winner and a classic of the horror genre. This is quite the film to watch on a dark, rainy night when you're alone at home. The Omen like The Exorcist still gives the audience genuine chills. This is horror at its finest, horror that is genuine, memorable and brilliantly constructed with atmosphere, and slowly unfolding terror to create a tense atmosphere that will stick with you some time after watching this. The Omen is one of the best examples atmospheric terror that I've seen. The Omen is a solid, thrilling and harrowing horror film that demands your attention. A brilliant film, this is one of the true classics of the horror genre. This also one of the best films that has evil child incorporated in its plot. If you're looking for ultimate terror, then The Omen is a nightmare waiting for you.

• Unknown H

  
  Gregory Peck is amazing in this movie and even when I see him in something else, my mind always traces back to this classic and quintessential horror movie, when script, acting ability and careful timing made movies great. *sigh* where did those days go?

• Melvin W

  
  Robert: Now, I've heard you. I want you to hear me: I never want to see you again. Father Brennan: You'll see me in hell, Mr. Thorn. There, we will share out our sentence. "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is… More
  Robert: Now, I've heard you. I want you to hear me: I never want to see you again. Father Brennan: You'll see me in hell, Mr. Thorn. There, we will share out our sentence. "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man; and his number is 666." Book of Revelation Chapter 13 Verse 18 The Omen is among my three favorite horror movies of all-time. It features an iconic horror villain, Damien; who is played remarkably well by Harvey Stephens. Damien just happens to be the son of the Devil and when the son of the Devil is around, shit is going to go down. I feel I need to describle my favorite scene in this movie, which is among my favorite scenes of all-time. In the freakiest scene, which is masterfully put together in the movie, we are at Damiens birthday party. He's riding a merry-go-round and we here a woman screaming his name, and every time I watch this movie I think it's his mother who is standing right by the merry-go-round. It is not, it's a ctually his nanny, who is standing outside a window, on the top floor of their house, with a rope around her neck. She screams, " Look at me, Damien! It's all for you." Then she hangs herself. To me, it's one of the best put together scenes in movie history. The film features great performances from Gregory Peck and also Billie Whitelaw. White law plays Damiens nanny. She knows what he is and is there to protect him. The score is brilliant and when the chants are involved with the score it is really creepy. This is a great film and among the top horror films ever.

• AJ V

  
  A fantastic horror, thriller, adventure movie. It's very scary and has just the right amount of blood and gore. I love this movie. Don't see the remake, see this one, the original!

• El Hombre I

  
  The Omen manages to keep it's head firmly above water to remain at the top of the horror genre with a scary tale and an impending sense of doom from the get-go. It helps that the movie has a simple, effective central premise. This is a well crafted, big budget, horror film for… More
  The Omen manages to keep it's head firmly above water to remain at the top of the horror genre with a scary tale and an impending sense of doom from the get-go. It helps that the movie has a simple, effective central premise. This is a well crafted, big budget, horror film for adults. From the isolated feel of the Thorn residence to Jerry Goldsmith's memorable score, there is always the sense that this is a movie in which the filmmakers wanted to get it right. Despite the violent deaths, (beheading, hanging, fork stabbing, and dog biting) this is not an exploitation film, but an excellent, gothic, dark tale of pure horror. Gregory Peck does well as the Ambassador whose prayers are both answered and pissed on the night that his wife, Lee Remick, goes into labor. The real standouts here, in my opinion, are David Warner as the photographer, Billie Whitelaw as the evil Mrs. Baylock and Patrick Troughton as Father Brennan. Troughton brings a sense of pain and regret with cold skin and fearful eyes to the role and steals the show from Atticus Finch. Little Harvey Stephens has the perfect look for the role of young Damien. I mean that little guy is creepy (growing up, I'd often imagine the kid grew up to be Angus Young from AC/DC). Richard Donner doesn't rely on having the kid look menacing or even scowling, but just as an innocent child who doesn't realize his destiny...yet. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view&current=damien028gi.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/damien028gi.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• Daniel M

  
  The Omen follows in a long line of films from the 1960s and 1970s which focus on the fear of children with a basis in the supernatural. The extent and role of the supernatural varies, as does our knowledge of its influence. For instance, in Rosemary?s Baby the devil is clearly… More
  The Omen follows in a long line of films from the 1960s and 1970s which focus on the fear of children with a basis in the supernatural. The extent and role of the supernatural varies, as does our knowledge of its influence. For instance, in Rosemary?s Baby the devil is clearly involved from an early stage, while in Don?t Look Now, we do not know how much the spirit world is in control. Much like Village of the Damned, Rosemary?s Baby and The Exorcist, The Omen is upfront in its treatment of the Devil and it makes no bones about the level of dramatic irony involved on the part of the audience. But no amount of unveiling or explanation can prevent it from being one of the creepiest and scariest films of the 1970s. Its simple but effective premise is explored in chilling detail thanks to a series of convincing performances, a brilliant score and solid direction. When lecturing about suspense, Alfred Hitchcock would often cite Sabotage as an example of how such a device can be misused. Sabotage features a sequence of a small boy carrying a parcel which turns out to be a bomb; after building it up and up, the bomb blows up on a bus, killing the boy and many others. Hitchcock subsequently realised that he had put his audience through the mill and not rewarded them, and that if suspense of that kind is to work, there has to be some form of resolution to prevent an audience from being alienated. It is ironic that in the year that Hitchcock made his last film that a work should come along which completely breaks one of his golden rules. When it comes down to it, The Omen is just that: a evil portent or harbinger of a greater evil to come. Unlike in End of Days, there is no big special-effects ending in which the apocalypse arrives (or in the case of Omen III, Christ returns). The film builds up tension and fear to an unbearable level and then bravely refuses to mitigate it with any kind of reassurance. Because of this, The Omen raises deep questions about predeterminism. The unstoppable nature of Damien, and the ruthlessness with which the forces of good are dispatched, seems to paint us mortals as nothing but pawns in a spiritual war between God and Satan. We have no real influence or control over the events which transpire, and faith becomes little more than a crutch of fear, a desperate hope that we are not destined to be cannon fodder in a war for human souls. The photographs which foretell the gruesome deaths cannot be changed; the camera doesn?t lie, and the future is fixed. In line with this fatalistic message, the characters in The Omen have clear, pre-ordained motivations. Both of Damien?s nannies turn out to be Satan worshippers ? we don?t get an upfront revelation like in Rosemary?s Baby, but their creepy characterisation and Jerry Goldsmith?s nerve-shredding score have essentially the same effect. Though it may appear that Robert Thorn?s decision to kill his son is one of free will, it could equally be another element of Damien?s plan; there is no point being born into a wealthy, powerful family if you have no means of inheriting said wealth or power. Thorn is like a modern-day Thomas, believing in the truth only when he has seen the devastation Damien has wrought. The Omen raises a troubling supplementary question: if everything about this war is predetermined, what is the role of the church? Are the priests genuinely working for good, or are they somehow complicit? On the one hand, it is a priest who first suggests that Robert Thorn adopt; on the other hand, we have Father Brennan, who is desperately seeking forgiveness for his part in Damien?s conspiracy. Brennan is a classic Cassandra character, whose incoherent babblings from the book of Revelation contain clear and accurate warnings of what will come. But of course, his warnings are not heeded and thing play out as the Devil intends. But it is not theology which makes The Omen so scary. This lies in the full-on nature of the deaths achieved by brilliant camerawork and special effects. By having the omens appear only as black lines on photographs, the film pulls a clever trick: we know who will die, but we are never exactly sure how. Hence when the nanny hangs herself or the priest gets impaled with a flagpole, it?s a real shock. The death of David Warner?s character is a perfect example of this. We first realise that he is destined to die when we see a photograph of him with a black line through his neck. We then follow his every movement closely, looking out for any object that could possibly achieve that effect. After Leo McKern fills us with some form of hope, we stop worrying about him and start to relax. But jut at that moment, Warner?s head is cut clean off by a sheet of glass. We sit there open-mouthed, wondering how they did it and recovering from the fright of our life. The Omen has a brilliantly creepy atmosphere, making you feel constantly surrounded by the very essence of evil. Richard Donner draws on the rich traditions of Gothic horror and the more serious end of Hammer (like Village of the Damned), using architecture and pace to create deep-seated unease. The Thorns? home in England is full of high staircases, dark passageways and open rooms with large windows. The churches are forbidding fortresses, and the weather is wild and unpredictable. The Omen is also a demonstration of how effective horror can be achieved through a simple choice of editing and camera angles, something which has often been neglected at the gorier end of the spectrum. Take the use of close-ups at the hospital, as the camera cuts back and forth between Kathy Thorn and Mrs. Baylock. It?s a simple device which easily creates tension and prevents the score from descending into melodrama. Brennan?s death is another example of effective editing: the camera cuts back and forth between the falling pole and his scream, before cutting to the wide shot of the pole passing straight through him. The one weak spot in The Omen comes in the lengthy exposition as David Warner and an on-form Gregory Peck attempt to decode the warnings in Revelation and apply them to the present day. Their initial encounter in Brennan?s house is well-played, but when they start talking about the ?eternal sea? and the common market, it starts to get a bit silly. It?s nowhere near as po-faced or ridiculous as the ?1999? twist in End of Days, but it treads so uncomfortably close to this that the whole project threatens to be derailed. Despite this niggle, The Omen remains a classic horror film, every bit as terrifying after nearly thirty-five years. Neither the inferior sequels nor the pointless shot-for-shot remake have taken the edge off either its premise or its place in horror history. For Peck fans, it?s a rewarding autumnal performance which is more satisfying than his role in The Boys from Brazil. For Donner fans, it?s a compelling calling card and evidence of his strengths as a director. And for everyone else, it?s a well-constructed, deeply creepy chiller, which still has the power and the potency to scare one half to death.

• Dead A

  
  Good horror movie. Felt sorry for the parents.

• Cassandra M

  
  Robert Thorn the American ambassador to Great Britain watches his wife's pregnancy when a priest tells him that his newborn has died, but he convinces him to substitute the baby (the wife not knowing) with another child that lost its mother in labour at the same time. Watching… More
  Robert Thorn the American ambassador to Great Britain watches his wife's pregnancy when a priest tells him that his newborn has died, but he convinces him to substitute the baby (the wife not knowing) with another child that lost its mother in labour at the same time. Watching their young child growing up, he starts show unnerving signs, which the parents slowly start picking up on and also bizarre tragedies start occurring. This leads Robert on a whirlwind investigation that all points to his son being the Anti-Christ. Right off the heals of 'The Exorcist' successful stint with moviegoers comes another one of those endless 70s religious themed horror flicks involving Satanism. 'The Omen', I'd definitely say is one of the better horror films in the shadow of "The Exorcist', but I'll even go to say its an vast improvement over it's influencer. That might be a surprise for some, but I found this film superior as it was more entertaining, fascinating and truly creepy in its context and shocks. Everything about it has a knack for falling into place. From the impending doom that's achieved by its coldly layered atmosphere to a premise that teases the viewer on how it's all going to play out. I won't deny that it seems silly enough when you pay close attention to it all, but with such conviction in the performances and that off confident direction, these factors makes sure that it doesn't slip overboard into cheesy daftness. Another stroke of brilliance would be Jerry Goldsmith's memorably, nerve-wrecking score with those explosive chants scattered throughout. On a grand scale the film was efficiently catered with well established cinematography and polished set-pieces that had penetrating might, which director Richard Donner handled with precise skill. Even when there wasn't much happening he knew how to keep things compellingly tight with good pacing and impressible imagery. Though, when it came to the essential thrills, he caps off some remotely tense (dogs' attack) and macabre moments (infamous decapitation) that display bite and flair. The climax is great and the ending is a fitting imprint too. The plot is filled with shocking revelations, interesting characters and it emits a glorious amount of excitement and dread from it mysterious outset. The performances are that of top quality by a stellar cast. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick are convincingly excellent as Mr and Mrs Thorn. David Warner turns in a marvellous performance as the photographer Keith Jennings. Then Billie Whitelaw is genuinely creepy as Damien's nanny Mrs. Baylock. Patrick Troughton is superb as the withering Father Brennan. But my applause goes to Harvey Stephens' who's the epitome of evil? well; he definitely looked the part and had a memorizing awe as Damien. Although, Peck deserves more credit really, as he brought such devotion to his character that we honestly feel the pain and confusion that hits home. One of the true benchmarks of horror, along the same lines of 'The Exorcist', but for me it beats that film all ends up. Expect a devilishly good time!

• Mike S

  
  Creepy classic, that after more than 30 years since its making, still stands strong next to its contemporary counterparts. The directing is superb and the story very captivating. Not to say spooky and quite graphic. Much like <i>The Exorcist</i> (which is sort of like a… More
  Creepy classic, that after more than 30 years since its making, still stands strong next to its contemporary counterparts. The directing is superb and the story very captivating. Not to say spooky and quite graphic. Much like <i>The Exorcist</i> (which is sort of like a sister film to this one, as they're quite similiar to eachother both tone- and storywise), it has some scenes that are pretty disturbing. So if you have weak nerves or get easily upset, you may want to think twice about seeing it. For those of us that can handle it though, this is an enjoyable experience from beginning to end. Not to be missed if you're a horror fan!

• Anthony L

  
  Classic horror. On par with the Exorcist in my opinion, it?s scary stuff! Well acted and brilliantly directed, it?s no wonder so many films rip it off!

• Jason O

  
  I'd never seen this much talked about film until after I saw the remake that came out on 6-6-06. I have to say, Gregory Peck's a great actor, one of the all time greats, but the remake kills the original.

• Jani H

  
  "The child is dead. Dead. The child is dead" Let me start by saying that 'The Omen' is one of the best horror/thrillers I've ever seen. The horror factor is pretty limited but this movie will surely thrill you! 'The Omen' basically started Richard… More
  "The child is dead. Dead. The child is dead" Let me start by saying that 'The Omen' is one of the best horror/thrillers I've ever seen. The horror factor is pretty limited but this movie will surely thrill you! 'The Omen' basically started Richard Donner's career. He had made several productions on the TV markets but in 1976 he hit the jackpot. After this film he went to direct such films as 'Superman', 'The Goonies' and the 'Lethal Weapon' series but he never reached the same level of cinematic success as with this film. I do love the before mentioned films but if you really stop and think about it, 'The Omen' is nearly flawless. Of course, this is only my opinion... Richard Donner, with the help of composer Jerry Goldsmith, builds the tension in the key scenes with exceptional expertise. This film doesn't focus on the, now familiar, loud noise effects. Goldsmith's score, that gave him an Academy award, starts slowly, gives time to the string instruments and when the choir starts to sing... Creepy. 'Ave Satani' is a song that pretty much everyone have heard at some point. A true soundtrack masterpiece. There are at least two scenes that will remain in the highlights of the history of cinema. The first one is the scene where the nanny jumps of the roof and hangs herself, saying these words: "Look at me, Damien! It's all for you." And this came without any bigger warnings. Of course the tension was pretty high before that but... Wow. The second scene is where Father Brennan gets impaled at the church. How this was made is also a perfect example on how to create a functional scene. The cast is very stellar. Gregory Peck, one of the greatest screen legends, is charismatic as always. But there is one person that have to be mentioned when talking about 'The Omen' and that is Billie Whitelaw as Mrs Baylock, the apostate from Hell. Can you really find a creepier character as this one? "Have no fear, little one... I am here to protect thee." Of course Harvey Stephens, as the Anti-Christ kid Damien, deserves a honorary mention. This was his only significant role of his career. He didn't start a career in the movies, just did this part and years later did a cameo in the useless 2006 remake. 'The Omen' is also famous for its "curse". While making the movie, the production was hit by several strange and sometimes tragic events. Almost like someone would not want them to finish the movie.... This was of course good publicity for the movie, and when 'The Omen' arrived to the theatres, it was a success. 'The Omen' was of course followed by two totally insignificant sequels that, like every other horror sequel, almost destroyed the legacy of the first one. 'The Omen' and 'The Exorcist' still remain, after 30+ years, as the best horror movies ever made.

• Chris G

  
  The Omen is one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen. Once you see it the images stick with you like driving by a horrible car accident late at night. It's one of those films that has an impression that doesn't last hours or days- it lasts years. Gregory Peck plays… More
  The Omen is one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen. Once you see it the images stick with you like driving by a horrible car accident late at night. It's one of those films that has an impression that doesn't last hours or days- it lasts years. Gregory Peck plays Ambassador Robert Thorn, who in a quick moment is talked into substituting an orphaned child for his own stillborn son because his wife won't be able to handle the loss of the child. Everything seems fine until Damien's fifth birthday when things begin to go haywire for the Thorns as the forces of evil work their way into handing this child the sole control of the Thorn families power and wealth. Gregory Peck is Gregory Peck. It doesn't get any better than the man who put a face on Atticus Finch. It's amazing that he would take this kind of film, but by tossing this off as a mere horror film is really an insult. Lee Remick plays Thorn's wife, who we sympathize with at the beginning but soon feel a little hostility toward as the film continues. Their relationship on screen is really the only sticking point. There's no real chemistry there and this causes the only flaw in the film. Directed by Richard Donner this film isn't your typical Vincent Price/Christopher Lee vampire film. It's a total experience. It isn't filmed on the moors in the middle of the night. Most of the horror is right out there in the middle of the day, even occuring at birthday parties. Satan doesn't care about the time of day it is. At times the film feels almost chaotic when the real horror is happening and that's exactly what Donner wants. Get comfortable and then rattling you to your core. But the most important of The Omen is Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack. The ancient sounding choirs and over the top orchestrations are enough to run shivers down your spine. This is probably the best thriller soundtrack ever written and it triples the atmosphere of the film itself. It sounds like you're in hell. I first saw this film in the mid 1980's and it left a lasting impression on me. Most films of this genre are good for a few hours of fright after viewing, but The Omen is a film that was built layer by layer and iced with a soundtrack that will drive you insane. That's the kind of horror movie you want.

• Luke B

  
  You'd think after years of homaging, referencing and parodying The Omen would lose much of its impact. On some levels it's true but mostly this is still one damn scary film. The Devil is one terrifying son of a bitch and when coupled with the corruption of innocent children… More
  You'd think after years of homaging, referencing and parodying The Omen would lose much of its impact. On some levels it's true but mostly this is still one damn scary film. The Devil is one terrifying son of a bitch and when coupled with the corruption of innocent children it just makes it all that much creepier. All the major scenes still shock in that 70's style that horror has given up on. The children's party hanging, the doomed priest are just two of the set pieces built up with eerie speed. We know where they are going, but it's when it gets there that puts the fear into the scenes. Peck adds high class to the distressed father role and the whole film hangs on his performance. Damian is the kind of horror icon that works so subtly. Is he even aware of what he does? A sly smile here, an innocent cycle ride there. The investigatory aspects are also intriguing, all in all adding up to a fine chiller.

• Craig S

  
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> Richard Donner.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Harvey Stephens.</b> I admire this film a lot, among many other horror films around the 70's and 80's, it uses its own way… More
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> Richard Donner.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Harvey Stephens.</b> I admire this film a lot, among many other horror films around the 70's and 80's, it uses its own way of scaring the audience without resorting to what American horror does nowadays, the problem with modern horror is that Hollywood feels that using little to no tension and loud noises and sudden images shows talent in scaring an audience, it might get the young people going, as there minds are still not developed enough yet, but I could shout BOO in the dark to someone, it shows no talent. But away from that, this film will remain a classic for one reason, its topic and how the filmmakers draw from that. Richard Donner directs with such vision and understanding, he does use shock value, but in such a way where he doesn't need to resort to talentless loud noises and imagery, he uses the camera professionally and the shocks come so suddenly from the angles he uses, it really is chilling. It may be compared to The Exorcist, because of some similar elements, but that film has its own way of connecting with the audience and scaring them, here with The Omen, its all in Richard Donners direction and David Seltzers script that covers certain realistic elements of our history to add a much more rich feeling to the atmosphere. The set locations are also a perfect mood for the film and adds once again, that richness to the film. The score by Jerry Goldsmith is absolutely amazing, he injects a lot of emotion into his score and the key changes in just the right moments to add the correct mood to each scene. And although Gregory Peck isn't in his best role, he still has a great essence on screen and a young Harvey Stephens is creepy as hell. The film is most certainly flawed and even a little silly in places, but it is a classic for many reasons, as I have stated above and it will always remain one and can be seen as a time when horror films were great, rarely do we get them amongst talentless hollywood cash-in's for the young generation.

• Stephen M

  
  Although it owes the earlier movie a debt this is loads more fun than gloomy old "The Exorcist". Billie Whitelaw still scares the crap out of me as the evil nanny.

• William S

  
  A film so under-rated - mostly cus it was born in the shadow of The Exorcist. The Omen is not only a much scarier and more enjoyable film, I also think it's a better made one! The sequel is actually very good too!

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