The Omen   

By Jeff Shannon

After The Exorcist sparked a lengthy trend of supernatural thrillers, this 1976 horror film scored a hit with critics and audiences for mixing gothic horror and mystery into its plot about a young boy suspected of being the personification of the anti-Christ. (No doubt it's a favorite of shock-rocker Marilyn Manson.) Directed by Richard Donner (best known for his Superman and Lethal Weapon films), The Omen gained a lot of credibility from the casting of Gregory Peck and Lee Remick as a distinguished American couple living in England, whose young son Damien bears "the mark of the beast." Mysterious deaths and unexplained incidents draw the attention of a photographer (David Warner), whose investigation leads to the young boy--and also to the photographer's shocking decapitation (in a scene that has since been inducted into the horror hall of fame). At a time when graphic gore had yet to dominate the horror genre, this film used its violence discreetly and to great effect, and the mood of dread and potential death is masterfully maintained. It's all a bit hokey, with a lot of biblical portent and sensational fury, but few would deny it's highly entertaining. Jerry Goldsmith's Oscar-winning score works wonders to enhance the movie's creepy atmosphere.

Academy Awards

The Omen received an Academy Award for Music Scoring (Best Original Score; Jerry Goldsmith). The Omen also received an Academy Awards nomination for Music: Best Song (Jerry Goldsmith - Music & Lyrics)..

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"For me, the most frightening moment came when Lee Remick was bandaged-up in her hospital room. She could barely move and was trying to get out of her bed and leave. (after getting a warning call from her husband)(enter the scary music) barely able to move, her back facing the door to her room. She here's someone enter. She turns around slowly, only to see her child's evil nanny from hell. Nanny slowly walks toward mom (the music continues to get louder) mom can't escape, because she can barely move. Remember, she was hospitalized after her devil-child knocked her off the balcony at home. The next shot you see is mom falling from her top story hospital window--crashing through the roof of an ambulance into the trailer. Scary stuff." --Cyber Josh