Origins Revealed: Insight into the Birth of Damien from the 1976 Classic Film "The Omen"
New Version
Give a warm welcome to The First Omen, a thrilling prequel to the iconic horror franchise, brought to you by director and co-screenwriter Arkasha Stevenson. This pyschological horror film, set in 1971, tells the chilling story of Margaret, a young American woman sent to Rome to start a life serving the church. However, she soon faces a sinister force that makes her question her faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy.
"The First Omen" is a prequel to the 1976 version," reveals the talented Stevenson, who's background in horror comes from directing episodes of "Legion" and "Briarpatch." "We wanted to create a story that could stand on its own, so you don't have to watch the original to understand this one, but we also have our own message to add to the conversation."
Stevenson, along with her writing partner Tim Smith, crafted the script, overseeing the project from start to finish. Smith also serves as an executive producer on "The First Omen."
"We've always been influenced by paranoid thrillers and psychological horror films from the seventies," says Smith. "The opportunity to dive into the world of 'The Omen' was so exciting for us. We set out to create the pervasive feeling of distrust and threat around every corner that characterizes films like 'The Parallax View' and 'Repulsion.' To do that, we knew we needed to anchor the film in Margaret's subjectivity, tracing a psyche that becomes fractured and ultimately undone."
Margaret's journey is not only a frightening tale but also serves as a character study, much like the film "Klute" that Stevenson admires. She says, "What was really important to us was that we create a story that could stand on its own. So, we really want you to watch the 1976 version, but we also have our own message to add to the conversation."
When Margaret arrives in Rome, she encounters a darkness that questions her faith and exposes a conspiracy to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.
A Rich History of Terror
In 1976, Richard Donner directed the first chapter of The Omen, in which Damien, the devil's young progeny, was introduced. The film was a massive commercial success, grossing over $60 million theatrically in the US. Two more films followed: "Damien: Omen II" (1978) and "The Final Conflict" (1981), both focusing on Damien's rise into his teenage and adult years.
The Omen was followed by three sequels: Damien: Omen II, Omen III: The Final Conflict, and Omen IV: The Awakening. A remake was released in 2006, grossing over $120 million on a $25 million budget. In 2016, the television series "Damien" debuted on the A&E network.
Now, the prolific horror franchise has received a prequel - The First Omen.
Producer David S. Goyer says, "With 'The First Omen' we set out to create the pervasive feeling of distrust and threat around every corner that characterizes films like 'The Parallax View' and 'Repulsion.' To do that, we knew we needed to anchor the film in Margaret's subjectivity, tracing a psyche that becomes fractured and ultimately undone."
"I'm really proud of this film because I think we take a lot of big swings when it comes to horror," says Stevenson. "And I do think that a lot of those are particular to the female experience and the female perspective."
Adds Smith, "We can't wait for fans of the franchise and newcomers to go on that journey."
So buckle up for a terrifying adventure, and don't forget to keep an eye on marginalized characters and themes that set The First Omen apart from other horror films!
"The First Omen," a prequel to the iconic horror franchise, delves into the world of both movies-and-tv and entertainment, bringing a terrifying tale set in 1971. As a chilling prequel to the 1976 classic, this film offers a captivating take on a psycho-horror narrative, making it an exciting addition to the rich history of terror within the movies-and-tv genre.
