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Set in 1971 Rome, when the civil rights protests were at their peak, The First Omen makes an assured departure from the usual jump-scare or horror movies set in a haunted mansion. Written as a prequel to the classic horror film The Omen (1976), some of the characters in The First Omen are based on those created by The Omen’s writer David Seltzer. Yet, the prequel, which takes a strong political and religious stand, offers a refreshing narrative that’s complemented by stunning visuals of Rome, the ’70s vibe and Catholic symbolism.
The film follows Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free), an American novitiate who arrives at an orphanage in Rome to take her vows. There, she comes across a “disturbed” young orphan Carlita, Cardinal Lawrence and Sister Silvia, the Abbess. In Rome, the old episodes of Margaret’s black-outs and “hallucinations” come back to haunt her. She grows concerned about Carlita, who is often confined in the “bad room” for her behaviour. She discovers Carlita’s drawings that shows a woman restrained to a bed. After she watches a woman writhing giving birth and a demonic hand sprawling out of her birth canal, Margaret begins to question if everything that she has been seeing is reality or imagination.
What makes Arkasha Stevenson-directed The First Omen a stunning prequel and, most likely, the first film of a new horror franchise are the impressive visuals and riveting performances. Especially noteworthy is Tiger Free’s portrayal of a nun with a dark past. The story unfolds slowly, but it never loses its hold over the audience. That shows Stevenson’s deftness in bringing together elements of body and psychological horror. This well-crafted movie has two graphic and prolonged childbirth sequences. Those are scarier than most of the other sequences designed to evoke fear and discomfort among the audience.
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In this politically-charged movie, evil forces are not oblivious to the changes taking place in society. The religious authorities make their displeasure clear over the new generation’s faith in “secularism” while distancing themselves from church. These additions to the script make the story layered and engaging.
During the scenes when Margaret is having nightmares, ‘voices’ have been smartly used to create an atmosphere of fear and distrust. Eventually, however, Margaret learns to hear her ‘own voice’ and follow it. The film is Margaret’s coming-of-age story, which witnesses an under confident nun take charge of the situation and make her own choices.
The First Omen movie director: Arkasha Stevenson
The First Omen movie cast: Nell Tiger Free, Nicole Sorace, Sônia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy
The First Omen movie rating: Three stars
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