The First Omen (15)

American novitiate Margaret Daino travels to 1971 Rome to work at an orphanage run by Sister Silvia before she formally takes her vows and devotes herself to God. Far from home, Margaret senses dark forces at work within the orphanage and she questions both her faith and the motives of senior members of the Catholic church including Cardinal Lawrence.

LondonNet Film Review

The First Omen (15) Film Review from LondonNet

In cinema, timing is everything. Not just on the screen but also outside of the auditorium where political, social and cultural concerns are constantly impacting the public’s eagerness to consume content. The serendipity of being the right film in the right place at the right time can turn a modest picture into a box office-conquering sleeper hit. The First Omen suffers the grave misfortune of arriving two weeks after the Sydney Sweeney horror Immaculate about an American novitiate entangled in a diabolical plot in an Italian convent…

Director Arkasha Stevenson’s prequel to the classic 1976 film The Omen traces the birth of evil incarnate, Damien Thorn, through the eyes of an American nun in training, who has been relocated to a 1970s Italian orphanage. Narrative arcs of the two pictures are spookily similar and both delight in gruesome make-up effects, to the point that audiences will be able to second guess the intentions of Stevenson’s picture, unravelling a central mystery well before the penny – sorry lire – drops for Nell Tiger Free’s much abused heroine. The First Omen dovetails neatly with the original including a grisly opening sequence that nods affectionately to one of the most iconic death sequences in the bloodthirsty franchise.

American novitiate Margaret Daino (Free) travels to 1971 Rome from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, at the invitation of Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), who helped turn her life around after a difficult start growing up in care. Before she formally takes her vows and devotes herself to God, Margaret will work at an orphanage run by Sister Silvia (Sonia Braga). Roommate Luz Valez (Maria Caballero) encourages Margaret to savour the capital’s nightlife before they both don habits and make solemn pledges of poverty, chastity and obedience. At the orphanage, Margaret is inextricably drawn to emotionally troubled teenager Carlita (Nicole Sorace). “Bad things happen around her,” ominously confides Sister Silvia.

Regardless, Margaret shows kindness where other nuns prefer harsh discipline and the new arrival experiences disturbing visions of dark forces at work within the refuge centred around Sister Anjelica (Ishtar Currie-Wilson). Ex-communicated priest Father Brennan (Ralph Ineson), played by Patrick Troughton in the original film, approaches Margaret with his terrifying suspicions. He believes high-ranking members of the clergy intend to birth a new Antichrist to rekindle devotion to the church and young Carlita will play a vital role in this despicable plan.

The First Omen boasts one clearly telegraphed jump scare but Stevenson’s picture prefers sustained mild discomfort to sporadic jolts of fear. Inevitable comparisons with Immaculate are unfavourable though certainly not damning. Free is largely reactive to the devilish madness swirling around her. Interesting directorial flourishes elevate a slow-burning plot that only picks up steam in the final 10 minutes, leaving one creaking door ajar for a potential sequel.

– Kim Hu