The Omen (HBO Max) (Exclusive Series)

Initial release date: June 25, 1976

Studios: 20th Century Fox/Mace Neufeld Productions

Tagline: OUR FINAL WARNING ...

Plot: American diplomat Robert adopts Damien when his wife, Katherine, delivers a stillborn child. After Damien's first nanny hangs herself, Father Brennan warns Robert that Damien will kill Katherine's unborn child. Shortly thereafter, Brennan dies and Katherine miscarries when Damien "accidentally" pushes her off a balcony. As more people around Damien die, Robert investigates Damien's background and realizes his adopted son may be the Antichrist.

Cast

Gregory Peck - Robert Thorn

Lee Remick - Katherine Thorn

David Warner - Jennings

Billie Whitelaw - Mrs. Baylock

Harvey Stephens - Damien

Patrick Troughton - Father Brennan

Martin Benson - Father Spiletto

Writer: David Seltzer (The Omen - 2006 remake; Dragonfly; My Giant)

Director: Richard Donner

Rated R (111 minutes)

'The Omen' is one of the eeriest and best horror films to come out of the 1970s. 'The Exorcist' will always be THE best horror film to come out of the 70s and this film is a close second.

This 1976 chiller delivers a lot of suspense that will really leave you shocked and at the very edge of your seat until the mind-blowing conclusion. Damien will easily give you the creeps during a few scenes, no matter how many times you have seen the film. Especially that little smile at the end of the film.

The score for 'The Omen' is incredibly amazing, eerie and is one of the most iconic musical scores for a horror film out there! There are a few things in the film that are a little vague, but that helps keep the mystery alive.

I never did get a chance to see the rest of the 'Omen' series, which consists of three sequels (one of them is a TV movie) and a remake made in 2006. Might check them out for next Halloween!

You can currently stream 'The Omen' and the rest of the franchise on HBO Max.

Here are some interesting little tidbits for the original 'The Omen':

• Harvey Stephens (Damien) was largely chosen for this role from the way he attacked Donner during auditions. Donner asked all the boys to "come at him" as if they were attacking Katherine during the church wedding scene. Stephens screamed and clawed at Donner's face, and kicked him in the groin during his act. Donner whipped the kid off him, ordered the kid's blond hair dyed black and cast him as Damien.

• The biggest problem with shooting with Mrs. Baylock's ominous dog was that the animal was nothing like he was supposed to be portraying. He wanted to lick and play with his co-stars rather than threaten them.

• Mrs. Baylock was originally written as a warm, effusive Irish nanny. For her audition, Billie Whitlaw significantly changed the dialogue to create the cold, slightly sinister character that subsequently appeared in the film.

• Stephens had a cameo as a tabloid journalist in the 2006 remake.

• Many writers refused to work on the project because of the subject matter.

• Gregory Peck would star in another movie about the rise of a boy Antichrist figure in 1978s 'The Boys From Brazil,' with the same outcome. Although that boy would be a clone of Hitler, not the son of the devil.

• While critics tore into 'The Exorcist' for being too gratuitously gory, this film was almost universally praised for its discreet use of gore. In fact, although there are many grisly deaths, there is almost no bloodshed. That didn't stop it from nearly getting an X rating due to the infamous decapitation scene.

• The film was a massive commercial success, opening domestically on June 25, 1976, in 516 theaters. It grossed $4.2 million in its opening weekend and a domestic total of $60.9 million total.

• 'The Omen' was followed by three sequels: Damien: Omen II (1978), Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981) and TV sequel Omen IV: The Awakening (1991). A remake of the same title was released in 2006.

https://youtu.be/sS-sXcx30O4