Tonight’s film, The Omen, is a sparkling example of why children are so scary. Little Damien, son of the devil, ranks up there with Regan from The Exorcist and little Gage from Pet Sematary for scariest child in a horror film. All three of them are adorable to look at but if they were my child, I would probably kill myself to save them the trouble of murdering me in my sleep.
When Katherine thorn delivers a stillborn baby, her husband Robert (Gregory Peck) secretly “adopts” another baby, Damien, whose mother has just died in childbirth. Everything is perfect for the happy family until Damien’s fifth birthday when his nanny commits suicide in his honor.
A priest begins to warn Robert that the child is evil and they must declare Jesus as their savior. Robert naturally doesn’t believe him as his son is seemingly perfect. It isn’t until Katherine becomes pregnant again and begins to feel in danger from Damien that Robert even starts to believe. When Katherine is knocked over the balcony and miscarries, things start to go downhill. The priest tells Robert that he must destroy the child who was born on the 6th day of the 6th month at 6:00 a.m., the child who bares the birthmark of 666: namely, Damien. This proves to be a more difficult task than anyone could have thought possible.
What makes Damien so scary is that he is the Antichrist. He is five years old and he already has a following of flunkies willing to do anything for him to survive. Damien is one of the cutest kids but he is the destruction of everything good crammed into that cute little body. No one would ever suspect a five year old to be a murderer and who would believe you if you told them your child was the Devil?
The Omen is one of those horror films where nothing good happens. Everyone is screwed in the end except mini Satan who gets exactly what he wants and leaves us with his ridiculously adorable grin. It’s certainly a bleak film, but a classic all the same. Skip the Julia Stiles piece of junk remake and go straight for the original this holiday season but keep something upbeat to watch afterwards. You’re going to need it.
