Harvey Spencer Stephens in “The Omen”; Nell Tiger Free in “The First Omen”.Photo:Twentieth Century Fox Film/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images; Moris Puccio/2024 20th Century Studios.
Twentieth Century Fox Film/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images; Moris Puccio/2024 20th Century Studios.
WithThe First Omenscaring its way into theaters, audiences may be wondering about the film that launched such a devilish horror franchise: 1976’sThe Omen.
The Richard Donner-directed original film’s story of a “creepy kid” who turns out to be a prophesied Antichrist was “such sacred ground,” she says.
Nell Tiger Free in “The First Omen”.Courtesy of 20th Century Studios
Courtesy of 20th Century Studios
The First Omenserves as an origin story for Damien, following his birth mother — spoiler alert! — novitiate Margaret Daino (Free). In addition, Ralph Ineson plays Father Brennan at the beginning of his mission to unearth what turns out to be a conspiratorial faction of the church dedicated to birthing the Antichrist. Their goal is to bring about a supernatural evil that would enable the church to maintain an influence on the increasingly secular world of the 1970s.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“The Omen”.20th Century Fox
1976’sThe Omen, Stevenson says, was “speaking to very specific cultural fears and anxieties of the time. It was really important for us to do that withThe First Omen. And I think this very much is speaking to a lot of communal fears about what’s going on with the female body right now and body autonomy.”
She continues, “The big question you have coming out ofThe Omenis, where did Damien come from? So it’s inherently a story about birth and possibly forced reproduction.”
Margaret learns of the conspiracy not long before realizing she is in fact one of the children of the demonic jackal, forcibly conceived as a potential mother for the Antichrist — oh, and that she is suddenly pregnant just before the prophetic June 6. It was the nuns and cardinal she trusted at her Roman orphanage who facilitated her sexual assault at the hands of the animalistic entity.
After birthing what turns out to be twins, a boy and a girl, the orphanage Abbess (Sônia Braga) orders her followers to burn down the building with Margaret and her new daughter in it. They can be seen bringing her son — Damien, who Margaret didn’t have the heart to kill — to Washington D.C. and handing him to the family they’ve coerced into adopting him. (Peck’s image can be glimpsed on a file that indicates the nuns had planned for Robert to be their target.)
But inThe First Omen’s final surprising twist, Margaret and her daughter survive the fire. Five years later, Father Brennan tracks them down, revealing their quiet life with their savior Carlita Skianna (Nicole Sorace), another of the church’s planned offspring and potential mothers of the Antichrist.
Considering the catastrophic events of the originalOmenconclude with Damien smiling fiendishly — into the camera! — at the funeral of his adoptive parents alongside the U.S. President and First Lady, the evil church faction has achieved their sinister goals.
But could Margaret, her daughter and Carlita thwart the Antichrist in further additions to theOmenuniverse? CouldThe First Omenspawn its own sequels?
As Stevenson tells PEOPLE, “You are dealing with heaven and hell and man’s relationship to it, so you could explore that for eternity… I’d love to continue going on.”
The First Omenis in theaters now.
source: people.com
