The Omen
|
List Price: Our Price: $8.57 You Save: $6.41 (43%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.55 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Omen
Movie Review: OUTSTANDING GOTHIC CHILLER...
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a first class, gothic chiller with an outstanding cast, a riveting story line, and a musical score that will make the viewer want to sleep with the lights on! A first rate film, it had audiences riveted to the screen when it was first released in the mid nineteen seventies. I know. I was one of that audience. This film has withstood the test of time, as it is as gripping today, as when it was first released.
Katherine (Lee Remick) and Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) are a wealthy, older American couple. Katherine is pregnant and, while in Italy, gives birth to an ostensibly stillborn boy, a fact that is kept from her. Knowing how much his wife wanted the baby and the difficulty that she had in conceiving, Robert agrees to have the dead baby supplanted by a living newborn whose mother died in child birth, keeping this information from Katherine. They name this baby Damien.
All goes well for the prosperous Thorn family, until Damien turns five. A series of dramatic, unusual events begin to occur around the Thorns, all seemingly stemming from Damien. Well guarded by a self sufficient, somewhat creepy nanny (Billie Whitelaw), there are those who would believe him to be the Antichrist. By the time that Katherine and Robert begin to realize who Damien may truly be, their lives are out of control. With the aid of an inquisitive photographer, a repentant priest, and an archaeologist who holds the key to the destruction of the Antichrist, Robert Thorn becomes a man with a mission. Will Damien let him complete that mission? Watch this movie and find out. You will not be disappointed. I guarantee that you will be sleeping with the lights on and the covers over your head.
David Seltzer wrote a terrific screenplay. This first class production, which is deftly directed by Richard Donner, is played with straightforward sincerity by its outstanding cast. The casting of Gregory Peck and Lee Remick was pure genius, as their distinguished reputations infused the movie with a believability not thought possible, given the theme of the script. Playing it straight, as a couple caught in a vortex of events over which they have little control, they sweep the viewer along with them. Supported by a fine cast, there are notable performances given by Billie Whitelaw, as the nanny with a mission, David Warner, as the photographer who begins to notice that something odd seems to be going on, and Harvey Stephens, as Damien, whose angelic countenance belies his satanic nature.
This is a riveting, subtle film that, with a few well planned, shocking moments, and an effectively creepy musical score that builds suspense to a crescendo, manages to thoroughly engage the viewer. If one is looking for a blood and gore fest, there is really none of that here. Instead, look to be scared out of the seat of your pants by a superb script, wonderful acting, deft direction, and a musical score that will long linger in one's memory. It is little wonder that Jerry Goldsmith, the composer of the original score for The Omen, won an Academy Award for his efforts.
The DVD is a loaded DVD with a lot of interesting features. It provides a forty six minute documetary on the making of the film, which is quite interesting., as well as a director's commentary. There is a also an intriguing, six minute short on some of the pitfalls that beset the cast and crew during the filming of the movie. The composer also has a small segment of his own. There are the other standard features, such as theatrical trailers, interactive menus, and scene selections, as well as crystal clear visuals and audio. This is a first rate DVD of a film well worth having in one's collection. Bravo!
Movie Review: The Antichrist has been born, June 6.
Summary: 5 Stars
From 20th Century Fox. Directed by Richard Donner.
This 1976 movie will scare the hell out of you or make you understand it a little better.
Ambassador Robert Thorne (Gregory Peck) has arrived in Rome. It is June 6, 6:00am. His wife, Katherine (Lee Remick) gave birth, but they said her son died. Robert goes to a nun hospital to receive an orphan baby whoose mother died the same moment his baby died. If Katherine knew their baby died it would tear her apart. So Robert secretly replaced the baby with the one the nuns had.
The son, Damien (Harvey Stephens) is now 5 years old. Much loved by his parents. The mother, Katherine still doesn't know the secret that Robert has carried with him. At Damien's birthday party outside the mansion, Holly (Holly Palance), the nanny yells to Damien from the top window outside and in front of everyone, the children, the parents and Damien, she says "It's all for you, Damien!", and with a smile on her face, she hangs herself off the ledge.
Robert is intruded by Father Brennan (Patrick Troughton) who tries to warn him about the boy. He knows everything and about the real deceased mother's identity.
A new governess arrives to help the Thorn's with Damien. This nanny, Mrs. Baylock (Billie EWhitelaw) can not be trusted with Damien. She even tries to bring a dangerous Rottweiler dog into the house for Damien.
Strange occurences happen whenever Damien is around. Father Brennan continues to warn Robert that his wife is in danger and warns him again about Damien. As Damien rides his tricycle in the mansion, something horrible happens to katherine and Robert knows for sure that Father Brennan was telling the truth.
Damien is the hell-spawn. The AntiChrist. The Devil's Child.
Also in the cast: David Warner, Anthony Nicholls.
Written by David Seltzer.
Robert Munger & Reverend Don Williams--religious advisors for the film.
Ben & Joan Woodgate--dog owner and trainers for the film.
Leo McKern returns as "Karl Bugenhagen" in DAMIEN: OMEN II.
Tommy Duggan who appears as a "priest", returns in (Omen 3) THE FINAL CONFLICT (1981).
Although scenes look intense, the child, Harvey Stephens, was never injured in any way during the film.
Guglielmo Spoletini as the "Italian Cab driver" had his finger smashed in the door by Gregory Peck accidently.
A stuntman was bitten by one of the dogs.
This film won an Academy Award for best Original Score.
The story continues:
Damien: Omen 2 (1978)
(Omen 3) Omen 3: The Final Conflict (1981)
Omen IV - The Awakening(1991-TV)
Remake: The Omen (Widescreen Edition) (2006) was released June 6, 2006 (6-6-6).
Note: Just remember that the devil's number is "6", but God's number is 7. God is always one ahead of the devil.
Movie Review: Very Scary!
Summary: 5 Stars
Comparisons to Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist were destined to this film simply because say "oh it's got the devil in it." Well I won't compare the two, but I will say that The Omen is scarier than Rosemary's Baby, but it can't touch The Exorcist. After The Exorcist sparked a lengthy trend of supernatural thrillers, this 1976 horror film scored a hit with critics and audiences for mixing gothic horror and mystery into its plot about a young boy suspected of being the personification of the anti-Christ. Directed by Richard Donner The Omen gained a lot of credibility from the casting of Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. The plot is a distinguished American couple living in England, whose young son Damien bears "the mark of the beast." Mysterious deaths and unexplained incidents draw the attention of a photographer, whose investigation leads to the young boy and also to the photographer's shocking decapitation At a time when graphic gore had yet to dominate the horror genre, this film used its violence discreetly and to great effect, and the mood of dread and potential death is masterfully maintained. Many viewers try to compare it to The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby, but don't. Most people find The Exorcist much scarier than The Omen, and many find Rosemary's Baby scarier than the omen, so in the future don't do that. You get there hopes up, and sadly they won't be met. If someone say that the scariest movie ever is [insert movie] and someone else says, "no [insert movie] is the scariest," then you have just made that person biased to the film that you deemed the scariest and they'll not find it any good. People try to sound smart by saying "oh the exorcist just tries to shock you, and educated people prefer no blood guts or shocks." Sorry The Exorcist also had alot of subtle horror and psychological horror and to fill in the gaps and give the film that little extra something, they provided shocks to offend and scare people. But in this day and age everyone's a critic and if a movie doesn't move a lightning speed and is filled will gross effects and computer imagery it can't be deemed scary. The worse thing about classics like these is that people watch them with the mind set of "oh it's and older flick so this can't be scary." People are teased about being scared in older horror films and that's not a good thing. Another thing is, if you have kids who are asking questions about horror films, don't say "the scariest movie ever is [insert movie]," cuz due to the rebellious nature of youth they will take the opposite of everything you say and do. So if you don't fall into those catagory's and have the guts to take the criticism and watch it alone in the dark, then you have earned my respect. But I will say this, your kids won't find this any good at all, simply cuz it's an older one and they simply don't know or get how to view films like these. But what do you expect with movies like Scream and I Know what You did Last Summer out there. And of course the latest trend of "being stupid is funny and cool." So this classic will die away and stupid un-scary films like Scream, and Silence of the Lambs are taking over. Oh well hollywood sux and so does pop culture. Watch this flick alone in the dark.Movie Review: The Omen (1976)
Summary: 5 Stars
THE OMEN is one the greatest pieces of work in all horror-film history. There is not one person out there that has not enjoyed this outstanding masterpiece of horror.
ROBERT THORN (played by Gregory Peck) and his wife, KATHY (played by LEE REMICK) have given birth to a son. But their son was born a stillborn. Without Kathy's knowledge, Robert adopts an orphaned infant boy, who was born the same exact date and time as his own son was. Robert brings in the adopted child, where he Kathy name their son, DAMIEN.
Five years later, after Robert is elected U.S. Ambassador to England, DAMIEN (played by Harvey Stephens), is celebrating his fifth birthday. All goes well, until Damien's nanny kills herself in front of Damien's whole party. The next morning, a new nanny named only MRS. BAYLOCK (played by Billie Whitelaw) enters and steps in as Damien's new nanny.
Over the course of the next few days, strange things begin happening. A priest is suddenly killed in a freak accident, after he only warned Robert of Damien being the Antichrist. A mysterious photography named KEITH JENNINGS (played by David Warner) shows Robert pictures of Damien's old Nanny, the priest, and of himself. Each photo shows some sort of sign that indicated each of their deaths. Well, the nanny and priest have already met theirs and it looks like Keith is next.
Robert and Keith wonder around, looking for proof on Damien being the son of Satan. They reach a graveyard in Rome, where the find the dead body of Robert's actual son. His real son was not a stillborn, for the hospital intentionally murdered him. They made the switch for a reason. They knew Damien was born the son of Satan; they knew Robert was going to be elected Ambassador. Therefore, Damien would be in protected hands. Mrs. Baylock has taken the job, for she is keeping a close eye on Damien.
Robert finds out that Kathy is pregnant again, but Damien pushes Kathy over the stairwell banister, causing her to break her arm and miscarry. Robert phones Kathy at the hospital and tells her to leave and come to Rome, but Mrs. Baylock appears and pushes Kathy out the window, killing her.
Robert has a meeting with a man anmed BUGENHAGEN, where informs Robert on how to kill Damien. He takes the seven daggers needed to do the deed. It has to be done in a church, will Damien's blood will spill on the church floors. For proof of Damien is the Antichrist, Robert should find a birthmark in the form of 666 on his head, under the hair. 666 stands for 6am on the sixth day of the sixth month. He finds the mark, as Mrs. Baylock attacks Robert, but Robert kills the demonical b*tch and takes Damien off to the church, with the police behind him. As Robert tries to kill Damien, the police enter and stop Robert by...killing him.
This film was just outstanding. Words cannot describe this film. The acting was great. The settings were great. The suspense and horror was just perfectly scary. This is a film for everybody...but don't let your kids watch this until they are at least 13 or 14.
Movie Review: Bone-Tingling Suspense Thriller
Summary: 5 Stars
When Kathy Thorn (Lee Remick) delivers a stillborn, her husband Robert (Gregory Peck) is at a loss for words. How can he tell her that she lost the child she has been waiting for? A sinister man wearing the guise of a consoling priest explains to him that he doesn't have to. Kathy "need never know" that Robert switched the "stillborn" child with another born from an otherworldly mother who, coincidentally, died during childbirth that same night, at that same hour.Robert Thorn is proclaimed ambassador to Great Britain, and the Thorn family packs up and moves. Damien begins to grow up, and experiences a seemingly normal childhood. Forget the minor oddity that he has never been sick a day in his life. However, on Damien's fifth birthday, life as the Thorn's know it begins to go terribly awry. It begins with the strange arrival of a "watchdog" at the home of the Thorn's during the birthday party. Soon after, Damien's nanny commits suicide (proclaiming "it's all for you Damien"), making room for a new nanny (Billie Whitelaw) to enter the picture. This new nanny is somewhat suspicious in that she arrived out of nowhere, as the Thorn's hadn't yet tried to replace the previous nanny. However, Kathy and Robert are a trusting couple and allow the nanny to come into theirs, and Damien's, lives. Nothing seems too out of place until Robert is confronted with a strange warning from a priest and even further warnings from a photographer. The priest quickly dies, leaving Robert and this photographer (David Warner) to investigate Damien's origins further.
They just don't make them like they used to. Nowadays, horror films are chock full of in-your-face gore, action and effects. What I love about this film is the subtlety. Eerie music, wind effects, and bone-chilling suspense help to make this the great film that it is. In addition, the fact that there are no ghosts, goblins, ghouls, or undead roaming about adds to the film's realism. Sure, you can argue semantics about whether or not the "hounds of hell" and the evil nanny were really similar to "goblins and ghouls," them being servants of Satan, but my point is that a child, a strange woman and a dog are far more believable than, say, godzilla, the blob, or aliens from outer space.
This is truly a classic horror film that should be seen, if not enjoyed, by all. The acting is great (especially compared to several films of the era), the score incredibly creepy, and the plot subtly intense. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick both deliver stellar performances and do a great job of showing the raw emotion involved with having life as one knows it turned upside down. If you can appreciate good horror films without the expensive make-up and special effects, then give this one a try. You won't be disappointed! The extras on the DVD are pretty cool as well!