The Omen is a film that was released on, of all dates, June 6th of 2006. This was a major promotional opportunity, due to the fact that the date in numerical format was 06/06/06. A remake, the original Omen was created in 1976 and directed by Richard Donner. These films were based off of a novel and the new movie was directed by John Moore. The film focuses on the life of a young boy named Damien who may or may not be the son of the devil. With heavy religious overtones, this film plays on our sense of fear by presenting a quiet, evil, and calculating young boy. The main conflict found within the movie is the disbelief of the boy’s father that his son could be the son of the devil. It is a moral dilemma faced by the man, played by Liev Schriber and his wife, played by Julia Styles, who truly gives a performance that you can sympathize with.
This movie definitely lacks in certain areas, including the fact that the viewer is in disbelief at how much a man could put up with without beginning to think that what everyone is saying is true. There are some scenes that add little to the plot, and serve to lull the audience into a stupor until the next opportunity for a scare comes. Also, much of the movie is predictable, and the scares are few and far between. While a few scenes may make you pop out of your seat, there are no that many and they are usually elicited by surprise rather then fear. The boy is played by a young Harvey Stevens, who really knocks it out of the park when it comes to playing a one-dimensional creepster. The film also features a priest, played by Patrick Troughton who continuously warns the father of the coming circumstances he will face. While his role isn’t in a whole lot of the movie, he helps to add an authentic feel to the film with his stellar performance as a man of the cloth. Without going into detail, it is safe to say that the film could have ended better. I was quite disappointed by the final minutes when I watched it, and it really leaves a sour feeling in your mouth that won’t be soon forgotten. The Omen had potential to be a great film; instead, it is merely spattered with powerful scenes and lacking in overall excitement.
