The Omen (1976)

2 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Devil of a Time

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Richard Donner's The Omen was a huge hit in its day, and was considered "classy horror," due to the casting of its A-list stars, Oscar-winner Gregory Peck and Oscar-nominee Lee Remick. But, to be honest, it's kinda dumb. Peck was around sixty at the time, and Remick was around forty-one, and even though they are a well-off, respected couple, they are embarking upon their first child. At the hospital, Katherine (Remick) loses the child, and a priest convinces Robert Thorn (Peck) to adopt another one and not tell Katherine. What a brilliant plan. Year later, Robert is an ambassador in London, raising Damian (Harvey Stephens). He seems to have no guilt or any misgivings about his choice, and just goes about his life. Then the weird stuff starts happening, and warnings come, and... he does nothing. All of this makes what is supposed to be a smart character, played by a smart actor, look like an idiot. The movie only picks up when Robert and photographer Keith Jennings (David Warner) start digging around and investigating the evil plot, but by then it's hard to care. The great Jerry Goldsmith won his only Oscar for what might be his most irritating score, an oppressive, chanting choir of doom. (He was also nominated for Best Song for "Ave Satani.") Screenwriter David Seltzer published a novelization that was also a hit (a copy of it is on display in the Graceland museum! Did Elvis read it?), and then returned to write the screenplay for the even worse 2006 remake.