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The Omen

1976 supernatural horror film directed by Richard Donner and written by David Seltzer Website

Approval Rate: 59%

59%Approval ratio

Reviews 44

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  • by

    wolfmantip

    Fri Oct 16 2009

    Another Classic, proving you can't keep a good/bad devil down.

  • by

    baggani

    Sat May 30 2009

    A must have for OMEN fans. Great picture quality and loads of extras for true Damien followers.

  • by

    craigconnell

    Mon Mar 30 2009

    This movie scared the heck out of me when I saw it in the theaters in 1976, and it's still creepy today. It was almost 30 years later when I finally saw it for the second time. The DVD version is excellent because it presents the movie in the 2.35 widescreen mode, which is essential to the viewing of this film if you are a fan of cinematography. I had forgotten how beautifully filmed this movie was. I'd also forgotten the story was a bit slower than I remembered from back in '76 but still provides enough action and plenty of chills. This time around, I found the nanny (Billie Whitelaw as "Mrs. Baylock") to be more scary than the devil-kid! I didn't even remember her from 30 years ago but she got my attention on the DVD. It was a very effective job of acting by that woman. In the meantime, I always enjoy looking at Lee Remick's gorgeous face with her magnetic eyes and Gregory Peck is usually rock-solid in roles he plays. This is no exception. The presence of Peck and Remick is on... Read more

  • by

    marky77

    Thu Mar 19 2009

    When Katherine Thorne (Lee Remick) gives birth to a still-born baby her husband, Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck), the current ambassador of the UK, replaces the baby (without her knowledge) with another baby born on the same night who's mother had died during the birth.. The baby was born on the 6th hour of the 6th day of the 6th month (June). They name the baby Damien (Harvey Stephens). The three of them move into a mansion and the all live together happily. But thing start to go wrong for them, starting at Damiens' fifth birthday party when the young maid of the house hangs herself by jumping off the roof proclaiming: "Damien, it's all for you!". A series of equally mysterious deaths lead Robert Thorn to discover the truth that his adopted son is the literal anti-christ - but can he stop Damien before it is too late . . . `The Omen' is a first class, cult favourite film with a riveting storyline, a talented cast and a chilling musical score. Although this is a horror film it relies m... Read more

  • by

    1jetsfan

    Tue Feb 24 2009

    "The Omen" is one of the GREATEST Horror films ever made and a CLASSIC of the genre. Like Richard Donner did for "Superman: The Movie" he does for "The Omen" meaning, he provides FLAWLESS direction. The LEGENDARY Gregory Peck gives a performance as only he could. David Warner is one of my favorite actors (Time After Time) and he gives a very memorable performance as well. It's a shame his character meets such a grissly demise. Leo McKern is GREAT in his brief appearance as Bugenhagen. Between Warner and McKern, aren't British actors the GREATEST?! "The Omen" contains TWO of the all-time GREAT death scenes. The first is where the nanny (Jack Palance's daughter) hangs herself at the birthday party. The second, and my all-time favorite death scene is where lightning strikes a pole on top of the church and the priest becomes impaled by it! The BEST death scene I've ever seen! Billie Whitelaw is HUGELY CREEPY as Damien's second nanny. Bugenhagen describes her as "an apostate from H... Read more

  • by

    unclestevie

    Sat Feb 21 2009

    XXXXX "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding Count the number of the beast: For it is the number of a man; And the number is 666." The above is found printed on-screen at the very end of this riveting suspense/horror movie. (Note that the above quotation is found in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 13, Verse 18.) I think this movie is so good when you compare it to other movies in this genre because of its: (1) Respectability: it is a film with renowned actors especially its two main principles, the legendary Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. (2) Seriousness: the movie plays as a contemporary thriller rather than going over-the-top (as so many suspense/horror movies do) (3) Background musical score: in a word it's--unforgettable. This musical score has a strong choral element with an eerie Latin chant. Be forewarned! This movie contains some shocking and intense scenes. Amazingly, these scenes contain hardly any blood and gore. Finally, the DVD itsel... Read more

  • by

    smokeyvision

    Wed Oct 01 2008

    One of my favorite movies, the music is crazy

  • by

    mcchido

    Sat Sep 20 2008

    666

  • by

    amy958

    Wed Jul 23 2008

    Anti-christ

  • by

    jennifer903

    Wed Jul 23 2008

    LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!! I own it and I have seen it alot and it STILL freaks me out!

  • by

    kristyn718

    Tue Jul 22 2008

    way too scary!!!!!!!!!!

  • by

    monkey11611

    Fri Jul 11 2008

    idl

  • by

    debbie325

    Fri Jul 04 2008

    eh.. it's alright I guess.

  • by

    spike65

    Sat Jun 28 2008

    The all-star cast does a fine job with material that is thoroughly un-believable. Interesting idea not all that well executed IMO.

  • by

    cassie

    Fri Jun 27 2008

    wierd

  • by

    unknown6240849_7

    Fri Jun 27 2008

    never saw all of the original, but I really liked the remake with Julia Stiles

  • by

    jennifer

    Sun Jun 22 2008

    Good movie...very creepy kid.

  • by

    desiderium_in_carmen

    Sun Jun 08 2008

    Ave ave / versus Christus / ave Satani!

  • by

    ayse81e9

    Thu May 29 2008

    the old version is creepier

  • by

    myspace_21682084

    Tue Apr 15 2008

    You might be the antichrist if... What can I say, I enjoyed it, but then I eat this stuff up.

  • by

    lmorovan

    Mon Apr 14 2008

    Produced in the middle of the '70 "revolution", the Omen explores one of the possible scenarios of the advent of the Antichrist. Bringing the devil into our own homes and into one of our own children is scary to the limit. parents who watched this movie were in a sense shocked with the traumatic experience of the the father of Damien and his inner struggle between the love for his child and the utterly monster which he has become. Shocking, to say the least. (I wanted to name one of my sons Damian, but my wife totally opposed it).

  • by

    genghisthehun

    Mon Apr 14 2008

    This does a good job weaving the Anti-Christ theology into pop culture. The device using photographs was unique, at least to me, and clever.The scene in the old Etruscan cemetary was scary. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick almost always did well with their material. It is worth a look.

  • by

    drkseph

    Tue Jan 01 2008

    Anyone who rated this movie as excellent or even good are a bunch of tasteless morons. I've been more scared watching reruns of Futurama. Pass

  • by

    softball13

    Mon Dec 31 2007

    the omen was a sick movie. the thoughts of it is outrageous! that is way 666 is a omen sign! the person who thought of this is a genuis.

  • by

    fb591051260

    Thu Nov 08 2007

    The origionals scared the bejebus outta me

  • by

    drummond

    Fri Oct 26 2007

    It never went everywhere. It was like a porn movie with death instead of sex. Every time we would start to learn something about what was happening, the character with the revelation would die.

  • by

    jeremy00081

    Wed Sep 13 2006

    I have no idea why this is one of the top 20 horror films on this site. It's pretty good, but it's not that scary. It's actually pretty dull for the most part. However, it has its moments. 3 and a half stars

  • by

    3119dfcd

    Tue Jul 04 2006

    I hated the movie. It was the dumbest movie I have seen since... it was just a dumb movie. I would rather watch paint dry.

  • by

    juchmu

    Tue Nov 29 2005

    This is a classic. Every scene is well crafted drama working in both suspense and shock. The acting is excellent, most notably the anguished Gregory Peck and a frantic David Warner. An eerie soundtrack too. All cyliders were firing in the production of this one. The rest of the series declines with each sequel, but their failures shouldn't diminish the appreciation of this one.

  • by

    trebon1038

    Mon Oct 10 2005

    I love all the Omen movies. Really creepy if you read Revelations. Damien's rise to power over the course of the films is one to make you hope this one remains fiction!

  • by

    djahuti

    Fri Aug 26 2005

    Pretty good horror flick of the fine 70s vintage. An evil kid-whatta concept!!!

  • by

    iamfromhelltoo

    Sun Aug 14 2005

    i'm not religous so i really did not understand the whole dagger thing i mean what if you cut the kids head off would't he die i enjoyed the movie very much but why the daggers isn't that fiction i wouldn't know

  • by

    sabasimba

    Wed Jun 22 2005

    Creepy little kid, with that smile at the camera at the end...brrrrrrrrr! :)

  • by

    kattwoman

    Fri Jun 17 2005

    i will say it was scary at times but i found the movie boring

  • by

    nickonelmstree_t

    Fri Apr 29 2005

    THE AURA OF THE MOVIE IS AWESOME

  • by

    shynamaste

    Fri Dec 31 2004

    Loved it. Beautiful. Poetry to my deminted heart.

  • by

    mystic_mango

    Thu Nov 25 2004

    It's a good movie, but the other two suck.

  • by

    dirty_harry

    Tue Jun 29 2004

    I love Gregory Peck in this movie! His disbelief in true evil is finally shaken when too many things keep happening. Finally he has to confront (kill) the evil. Sort of like terrorists today. Anyway, this is a great movie with a terrific score and set. For a true horror fan, you need to own this one. The sequels sucked though. The second Omen was okay, but after that it became ridiculous. The only problem I have with the original is that there is NOTHING in the Bible like what they were reading from (except the 666 part). That does take something away from it, but not much.

  • by

    jamie_mcbain

    Sat Jun 19 2004

    A bit more scarier than The Exorcist. Most creepiest part of the film, the ending.

  • by

    buttongwinnett

    Tue May 25 2004

    One of the all time greats.

  • by

    nightshade

    Wed Apr 23 2003

    One of THE best horror series of all time. Excellent acting, excellent thrills, excellent chills. Not to mention the awesome storyline/plot.

  • by

    angusmacpherso_n

    Sat Mar 15 2003

    666 666 666 666...

  • by

    the_marquis

    Fri Nov 01 2002

    What can I say? I like horror movies. I especially like horror movies with religious trappings. It comes from being raised in a christian family, and from years of going to a christian summercamp, where as adolescents we would lay out under a country sky full of stars (If you've ever seen the night sky in the true country dark, you'll understand this.)and speculate about the darker aspects of the christian mythos: Hell. Demonic possession (See: "The Exorcist"[1973]). And, of course, the most popular and spooky of all...the rise of the Antichrist and the end of the world! This one was good for hours of scaring each other stupid--"What if it happens tonight?"-- If you are unfamiliar with the subject matter this all probably makes little or no sense to you, but if you are at all familiar with the wide world of Protestantism, you almost certainly know exactly what I'm talking about. If not, bear with me. "The Omen"(1976), taking it's subject matter from the Book Of Revelations in th... Read more

  • by

    stud_in_americ_a

    Thu Nov 29 2001

    The Omen is a very good horror flick. Somewhat dated, it can still be enjoyed today. Definitely considered a very dark film. The haunting organ music throughout is extremely enjoyable, and the acting is good. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick star. If you are into dark horror films, this is a must see. Though clean by todays standards, I would still recommend caution about letting younger viewers watch it.