Now available on digital platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, Hulu and other major retailers, is the horror film, The First Omen. The movie will be available on Blu-ray and DVD July 30, 2024.
The film stars Nell Tiger Free, Ralph Ineson, Sonia Braga, Tawfeek Barhom, Maria Caballerio, Charles Dance and Bill Nighy.
If you are fan of horror movies, there is no doubt that you are awake of the classic horror film, The Omen. It’s the story about the son of Satan named Damien that is raised by an American diplomat and his wife. They had no idea who the child truly was until it was too late. This is where looking for the sign of the beast (666) comes from.
The First Omen is a prequel to The Omen, even though the original film (The Omen) came out in 1976.
A young American girl named Margaret (Tiger Free) is sent to Rome, Italy, to start her life of service to the church. Almost immediately she experiences some bizarre things that doesn’t sit too well with her. She is also sent to room with another young woman who is also about to become a nun, who is all for partying up until she takes her vows, something Margaret doesn’t feel too comfortable about. There is good reason why…
Almost from the start Margaret can see that there is something not right going on at the orphanage where she is working at (run by the nuns). She especially upset with how a young girl name Carlita is treated. She is treated like an outcast and kept locked away from the others.
Soon, Margaret is faced with darkness and pure evil that causes her to question her faith, and that reveals a terrifying conspiracy to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.
What role does Margaret play in the child that is to become Damien in The Omen? To find out, check out The First Omen. Look for it on the various streaming platforms mentioned in the beginning of this post, and look for it on Blu-ray and DVD July 30, 2024.
This film, for me anyway, had a “slow burn.” While there were some creepy things that happened early on on the film, the bulk of the excitement came in the last half hour or so. It might also be because I am a horror movie “snob,” and it takes a lot to impress me. For others, this film could easily have them keeping the covers close to their face, preparing to hide under them at any moment.
The reason behind how Damien came to be is very disturbing. It’s hard to believe that the church would be involved in such evil.
Overall the acting was really good. I think Nell Tiger Free did an excellent job in her role of Margaret. She had an innocence about her that made you feel compassion towards her character.
Ishtar Currie-Wilson, who played the role of Sister Angelica, was especially creepy. Too bad she didn’t have a bigger role in the film.
I don’t want to give away the ending, but I was surprised by one of the characters that survived, and I wonder why this particular character didn’t have any part in any of the other Omen films. Interesting…
This film has a run time of an hour and fifty-seven minutes. I think it was just a tad bit too long. I think they could have trimmed some time off here and there with scenes not necessary for the overall story line. It’s rated “R.”
There is some bonus content for this film as well.
Featurette
- The Mystery of Margaret – Join director Arkasha Stevenson and stars Nell Tiger Free, Bill Nighy and Maria Caballero as they dive into the character of Margaret, her relationships with other characters, and how she’s manipulated while trying to solve the film’s horrifying mystery.
- The Director’s Vision – Director Arkasha Stevenson talks about her love of horror films, the opportunity to expand on The Omen legacy, and crafting The First Omen entirely through a female lens. She also describes shooting in Rome, and the cast recounts working with Arkasha.
- Signs of The First Omen – Join the director and talented artists as they reveal some of the symbolism within the set designs and the costumes. Learn how the use of practical effects blurs the line between what is real and what is not in The First Omen’s terrifying world.
*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer
I tried to keep my word count to “666,” as a joke, but I went over. Ha Ha.
If you are fan of the Omen movie franchise, you’ll certainly want to check out The First Omen to see how it all began.
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The film’s official hashtag is #TheFirstOmen. Check it out on social media to see what others are saying about this film.
Did YOU see The First Omen? If so, what did you think about the film? Feel free to comment and share your thoughts. I always love to hear from readers.
Below if the film’s trailer for your enjoyment.
Kimberly
*I received a free copy of this film in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
