A good "Omen" prequel? Alright, which one of you jokers made a deal with the devil? Director Richard Donner's original 1976 horror classic has spawned no shortage of film sequels, plus a failed TV pilot, a sequel TV series, and a 2006 remake featuring an utterly bizarre screenwriting credit. However, director and co-writer Arkasha Stevenson's "The First Omen" is the first entry to be widely heralded as a worthy continuation. In his review for /Film, Witney Seibold described the picture as "thoughtfully menacing, uniquely stylish, deathfully intense, and utterly terrifying" before crowning it "the best horror movie of the year so far."
Sadly, early 2024 hasn't been kind to horror at the box office, and Stevenson's film was no exception. On the other hand, Disney had initially planned on punting the movie straight to Hulu before sending it to theaters, so "The First Omen" was never under pressure to become a huge hit.
Sadly, early 2024 hasn't been kind to horror at the box office, and Stevenson's film was no exception. On the other hand, Disney had initially planned on punting the movie straight to Hulu before sending it to theaters, so "The First Omen" was never under pressure to become a huge hit.
- 5/13/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
On April 5th, 20th Century Studios gave a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here) – and the movie was surprisingly well-received, with JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray giving it an 8/10 review and Tyler Nichols writing an article about why it works so well. The movie hasn’t been burning up the box office charts; made on a budget of $30 million, it has only pulled in $36 million so far. But if a sequel were to get the greenlight, director Arkasha Stevenson knows one subject she would want to cover in the follow-up: the mystery of the jackal.
In the original The Omen, we were told that the Antichrist was born of a jackal. The First Omen digs deeper into his parentage, letting us know that it wasn’t quite as simple (although very strange) as it appeared to be in the original movie,...
In the original The Omen, we were told that the Antichrist was born of a jackal. The First Omen digs deeper into his parentage, letting us know that it wasn’t quite as simple (although very strange) as it appeared to be in the original movie,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Warning: The following contains major spoilers for Immaculate and The First Omen.
Horror has always served as a frightening mirror to reality. In his 1981 treatise on the genre Danse Macabre, author Stephen King writes, “we make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones”; it seems scary movies have been helping us do that since the earliest days of storytelling. Modern examples include The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) now considered a reaction to the 1973 oil crisis, Dawn of the Dead (1978) which stands as a horrific condemnation of consumerism, and the explosion of the torture porn subgenre in the wake of 9/11. As the United States enters a new phase of fear, two films have converged in an exploration of horrific pregnancy caused by religious abuse. As reproduction becomes more dangerous, Michael Mohan’s Immaculate and Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen both follow nuns impregnated against their will and...
Horror has always served as a frightening mirror to reality. In his 1981 treatise on the genre Danse Macabre, author Stephen King writes, “we make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones”; it seems scary movies have been helping us do that since the earliest days of storytelling. Modern examples include The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) now considered a reaction to the 1973 oil crisis, Dawn of the Dead (1978) which stands as a horrific condemnation of consumerism, and the explosion of the torture porn subgenre in the wake of 9/11. As the United States enters a new phase of fear, two films have converged in an exploration of horrific pregnancy caused by religious abuse. As reproduction becomes more dangerous, Michael Mohan’s Immaculate and Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen both follow nuns impregnated against their will and...
- 4/16/2024
- by Jenn Adams
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: The First Omen director and co-scribe Arkasha Stevenson and the pic’s screenwriter/EP Tim Smith have signed with WME for representation in all areas.
The news comes in the wake of the 20th Century Studios’ prequel to the 1976 theatrical release grossing north of $35M at the global box office through its first ten days of release, as well as 80% certified fresh with Rotten Tomatoes critics. Stevenson and Smith wrote the screenplay with Keith Thomas off a story by Ben Jacoby, based on the characters by David Seltzer.
The duo partnership first came to public attention with the short film Pineapple, which made its debut at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Under Stevenson’s direction and Smith’s production acumen, Pineapple was not only a festival standout but also a concept robust enough to be sold as a TV series to AMC, for which Stevenson and Smith collaboratively penned the pilot episode.
The news comes in the wake of the 20th Century Studios’ prequel to the 1976 theatrical release grossing north of $35M at the global box office through its first ten days of release, as well as 80% certified fresh with Rotten Tomatoes critics. Stevenson and Smith wrote the screenplay with Keith Thomas off a story by Ben Jacoby, based on the characters by David Seltzer.
The duo partnership first came to public attention with the short film Pineapple, which made its debut at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Under Stevenson’s direction and Smith’s production acumen, Pineapple was not only a festival standout but also a concept robust enough to be sold as a TV series to AMC, for which Stevenson and Smith collaboratively penned the pilot episode.
- 4/16/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
My recent trip to Montgomery, Alabama, wasn’t my first visit. I had previously explored the city and the sites associated with Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative (Eji) in 2019, in what turned out to be a pivotal moment — after Donald Trump’s ascent to power, but before the Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill. It was also before the 2020 killing of George Floyd sparked widespread protests and a year of reconstruction.
I remember the world around me, even Trump’s presidency, making sense as I left the Legacy Museum,...
I remember the world around me, even Trump’s presidency, making sense as I left the Legacy Museum,...
- 4/14/2024
- by Donovan X. Ramsey
- Rollingstone.com
If you thought babysitting was tough, try stopping the birth of the Antichrist. The First Omen sweeps you into a visually lush 1970s Rome, serving up a sumptuous feast for the eyes that’s as stylish as it is shadowy. Although you might find yourself guessing the twists before they unfurl, the film keeps its grip with a dark, rich portrayal of evil’s origins. It’s all for you, Damien.
“[The First Omen serves] up a sumptuous feast for the eyes that’s as stylish as it is shadowy.”
From the opening scenes, the film devilishly dazzles with a rich color palette that superbly captures the eerie 1970s Rome, replete with political unrest, religious skepticism and foreboding religious iconography. The grandeur of the Eternal City is captured in sweeping vistas, which, combined with a robust orchestral score, elevates the production value to a level that’s a rarity in modern horror flicks. There...
“[The First Omen serves] up a sumptuous feast for the eyes that’s as stylish as it is shadowy.”
From the opening scenes, the film devilishly dazzles with a rich color palette that superbly captures the eerie 1970s Rome, replete with political unrest, religious skepticism and foreboding religious iconography. The grandeur of the Eternal City is captured in sweeping vistas, which, combined with a robust orchestral score, elevates the production value to a level that’s a rarity in modern horror flicks. There...
- 4/12/2024
- by Kimberley Elizabeth
When I was in high school, kids wouldn’t shut up about Isaac Asimov, the American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. When he wasn’t molding young minds in the classroom, Asimov was busy becoming one of the “Big Three” science-fiction writers worldwide. Cerebral and scientific, Asimov’s writing teased the brain and tickled the imagination. In 1988, Asimov partnered with Michael Wagner to create the short-lived TV series Probe. Looked upon fondly by those who remember it, Probe lasted for two months before getting yanked from the ABC Network.
In today’s Gone But Not Forgotten, Parker Stevenson joins us to discuss this rare gem of science-fiction entertainment. Stevenson’s presence makes this a special episode of this series, and we thank him for his participation. If you’re a Probe fan, let us know in the comments!
Probe would air on ABC in 1988, with a two-part pilot screening on Monday night,...
In today’s Gone But Not Forgotten, Parker Stevenson joins us to discuss this rare gem of science-fiction entertainment. Stevenson’s presence makes this a special episode of this series, and we thank him for his participation. If you’re a Probe fan, let us know in the comments!
Probe would air on ABC in 1988, with a two-part pilot screening on Monday night,...
- 4/9/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Contains spoilers for The First Omen.
If you’ve seen The First Omen you’ll probably know the scene Den of Geek and director Arkasha Stevenson are talking about. In it, our hero, young would-be nun Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) witnesses a woman in the birthing room at the convent, traumatically having her baby. Her feet are in stirrups, she visibly distressed, and no wonder. Because what Margaret, and we, see as the head starts to crown is a demon hand appearing out of the woman’s vagina. It is extremely disturbing and it was vitally important to Stevenson that the image made it into the film.
“What my life has been about for the last year and a half is making sure that image got into the film,” she explains. “I think the reason why it’s so important is because we are talking about body horror, but what...
If you’ve seen The First Omen you’ll probably know the scene Den of Geek and director Arkasha Stevenson are talking about. In it, our hero, young would-be nun Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) witnesses a woman in the birthing room at the convent, traumatically having her baby. Her feet are in stirrups, she visibly distressed, and no wonder. Because what Margaret, and we, see as the head starts to crown is a demon hand appearing out of the woman’s vagina. It is extremely disturbing and it was vitally important to Stevenson that the image made it into the film.
“What my life has been about for the last year and a half is making sure that image got into the film,” she explains. “I think the reason why it’s so important is because we are talking about body horror, but what...
- 4/8/2024
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire were the monsters with the mostest at the box office this weekend, as Dev Patel‘s much buzzed-about feature directorial debut Monkey Man and supernatural franchise installment The First Omen both opened behind expectations.
Neither genre film ever had a chance of taking away the No. 1 spot from Warner Bros. and Legendary’s Godzilla x Kong, but had hoped for a bigger slice of the proverbial box office pie. Godzilla, from filmmaker Adam Wingard, is proving to be a significant victory for Josh Grode’s Legendary Pictures on the heels of Dune: Part Two, which is the top-grossing film of the year to date with $660.7 million in global ticket sales through Sunday. And Godzilla is also a big win for Warner Bros. and Legendary’s MonsterVerse series, at a time when many franchises are struggling to remain fresh.
Godzila x Kong topped the chart...
Neither genre film ever had a chance of taking away the No. 1 spot from Warner Bros. and Legendary’s Godzilla x Kong, but had hoped for a bigger slice of the proverbial box office pie. Godzilla, from filmmaker Adam Wingard, is proving to be a significant victory for Josh Grode’s Legendary Pictures on the heels of Dune: Part Two, which is the top-grossing film of the year to date with $660.7 million in global ticket sales through Sunday. And Godzilla is also a big win for Warner Bros. and Legendary’s MonsterVerse series, at a time when many franchises are struggling to remain fresh.
Godzila x Kong topped the chart...
- 4/7/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Plot: A young novitiate in Rome (Nell Tiger Free) is warned by an ex-communicated priest (Ralph Ineson) that she’s at the center of a sinister conspiracy at her church dedicated to spawning the anti-Christ.
Review: I’ve always really enjoyed The Omen as a franchise. Even as a kid, I found something about the original trilogy centring around Damien Thorn especially gripping. However, I never had much use for the cheap TV movie sequel (Omen IV: The Awakening) or the scene-for-scene remake, which, despite a game cast, didn’t come close to recapturing the grisly spirit of Richard Donner’s original.
As such, I figured The First Omen would be just another would-be franchise starter, but I have to give 20th Century Studios and Disney credit – they made one hell of a cool horror flick (pun intended). In some ways, it’s a bit like Wonka (bear with...
Review: I’ve always really enjoyed The Omen as a franchise. Even as a kid, I found something about the original trilogy centring around Damien Thorn especially gripping. However, I never had much use for the cheap TV movie sequel (Omen IV: The Awakening) or the scene-for-scene remake, which, despite a game cast, didn’t come close to recapturing the grisly spirit of Richard Donner’s original.
As such, I figured The First Omen would be just another would-be franchise starter, but I have to give 20th Century Studios and Disney credit – they made one hell of a cool horror flick (pun intended). In some ways, it’s a bit like Wonka (bear with...
- 4/5/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
[Editor’s note: The following article contains spoilers for “The First Omen.”]
In the IP-mad world of Hollywood, we’ve got remakes and sequels, re-quels and “legacy prequels,” entire cinematic timelines up-ended and rearranged, whole franchises twisted to and fro, so isn’t it refreshing to see something like Arkasha Stevenson’s “The First Omen”? It’s the rare contemporary horror prequel that wears its devotion to the original series on its sleeve, while also cleverly reorienting previous events to chart a potential new storyline.
The basis of Stevenson’s film, which she co-wrote with producers Tim Smith and Keith Thomas, takes a classic subplot from Richard Donner’s 1976 chiller — that not only is young Damien the Antichrist, but that he was the product of a planned spawning between the Devil and a female jackal — and makes it a touch more believable. In “The First Omen,” Damien’s mom isn’t actually a jackal, but young would-be nun Margaret...
In the IP-mad world of Hollywood, we’ve got remakes and sequels, re-quels and “legacy prequels,” entire cinematic timelines up-ended and rearranged, whole franchises twisted to and fro, so isn’t it refreshing to see something like Arkasha Stevenson’s “The First Omen”? It’s the rare contemporary horror prequel that wears its devotion to the original series on its sleeve, while also cleverly reorienting previous events to chart a potential new storyline.
The basis of Stevenson’s film, which she co-wrote with producers Tim Smith and Keith Thomas, takes a classic subplot from Richard Donner’s 1976 chiller — that not only is young Damien the Antichrist, but that he was the product of a planned spawning between the Devil and a female jackal — and makes it a touch more believable. In “The First Omen,” Damien’s mom isn’t actually a jackal, but young would-be nun Margaret...
- 4/5/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Sanguis bibimus! Corpus edimus! In a partnership between Mutant, Hollywood Records, and 20th Century Films, the haunting soundtrack to "The First Omen" can soon be yours on vinyl. The prequel to Richard Donner's 1976 masterpiece, director Arkashsa Stevenson's most excellent "The First Omen" is the rare example of a legacy film done right, and what /Film's Witney Seibold described in his review, as "a film of dank, bloody, spittle-flecked dread, made no less powerful by the foregone conclusion." Donner's original film shocked audiences upon release and is believed to this day to be a cursed film, but Stevenson's prequel film had to fight with the MPA to avoid an Nc-17 rating, so the franchise tradition of scaring the squares is alive and well.
"The Omen" was scored by Jerry Goldsmith, who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score, but took home the "Best Original Song" statue for the movie's theme "Ave Satani,...
"The Omen" was scored by Jerry Goldsmith, who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score, but took home the "Best Original Song" statue for the movie's theme "Ave Satani,...
- 4/5/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Growing up, The Omen franchise was one of my favorites. And like many a film series, the subsequent sequels couldn’t come close to the original. Even still, I appreciated the first three films. I was doubtful this would be remotely good. That is until me and my horror loving buddy Matt Van Winkle were happily shocked after seeing the new flick. The prequel is frankly one of the best franchise horror films I’ve seen in a long while. Arkasha creates a wonderful sense of dread with a final act that will creep you the f*ck out. Add to that, Nell Tiger Free is utterly sensational as a young idealistic nun facing true evil – and dare I say it’s an award worthy performance. I absolutely loved this film.
Not only did I love the film, talking to both Arkasha Stevenson and Nell Tiger Free was a marvelous experience.
Not only did I love the film, talking to both Arkasha Stevenson and Nell Tiger Free was a marvelous experience.
- 4/5/2024
- by JimmyO
- JoBlo.com
Stars: Nell Tiger Free, Ralph Ineson, Sônia Braga, Tawfeek Barhom, Maria Caballero, Charles Dance, Billy Nighy, Nicole Sorace | Written by Tim Smith, Arkasha Stevenson, Keith Thomas | Directed by Arkasha Stevenson
Typical. You wait years for a movie about a teenage American nun who becomes mysteriously pregnant when she travels to an Italian nunnery and then two come along at once. Consequently, The First Omen – a prequel to the 1976 horror classic – has had its thunder stolen somewhat by Michael Mohan’s excellent Sydney Sweeney-starring nunsploitation picture Immaculate (which is still in cinemas), but still delivers its fair share of tense atmospherics, jump scares and impressive body horror.
The film begins in 1971, with virginal young American novice Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) travelling to Rome, where she’s met by kindly Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), before beginning her apprenticeship at the Vizzardeli Orphanage, where she will eventually take her vows. Soon, Margaret’s...
Typical. You wait years for a movie about a teenage American nun who becomes mysteriously pregnant when she travels to an Italian nunnery and then two come along at once. Consequently, The First Omen – a prequel to the 1976 horror classic – has had its thunder stolen somewhat by Michael Mohan’s excellent Sydney Sweeney-starring nunsploitation picture Immaculate (which is still in cinemas), but still delivers its fair share of tense atmospherics, jump scares and impressive body horror.
The film begins in 1971, with virginal young American novice Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) travelling to Rome, where she’s met by kindly Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), before beginning her apprenticeship at the Vizzardeli Orphanage, where she will eventually take her vows. Soon, Margaret’s...
- 4/5/2024
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
Dev Patel‘s highly anticipated feature directorial debut Monkey Man bested 20 Century’s supernatural franchise horror pic The First Omen in Thursday night previews at the domestic box office.
Monkey Man earned $1.4 million in previews, compared to $725,000 for The First Omen, a prequel to Richard Donner’s 1976 film. For the full weekend, tracking has been predicting a close race between the two films for second place with $12 million to $14 million each.
Legendary and Warner Bros.’ Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is easily expected to stay No. 1 in its second outing after opening to a notable $80 million, well ahead of expectations. On Thursday, it jumped the $100 million mark domestically and and could near or clear $300 million globally by Sunday.
Universal is distributing Monkey Man at the behest of Jordan Peele, who was so impressed with Patel’s film that Peele’s Monkey Paw Productions boarded the project and brought it to Universal,...
Monkey Man earned $1.4 million in previews, compared to $725,000 for The First Omen, a prequel to Richard Donner’s 1976 film. For the full weekend, tracking has been predicting a close race between the two films for second place with $12 million to $14 million each.
Legendary and Warner Bros.’ Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is easily expected to stay No. 1 in its second outing after opening to a notable $80 million, well ahead of expectations. On Thursday, it jumped the $100 million mark domestically and and could near or clear $300 million globally by Sunday.
Universal is distributing Monkey Man at the behest of Jordan Peele, who was so impressed with Patel’s film that Peele’s Monkey Paw Productions boarded the project and brought it to Universal,...
- 4/5/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This article contains minor spoilers for "The First Omen."
When The Walt Disney Company first acquired 20th Century Studios, fans had a field day joking about the characters in their library that were now under the Disney banner. Ripley from "Alien," Tyler Durden from "Fight Club," the titular "Predator," and all of the "Planet of the Apes" characters were now residents at the House of Mouse. Suddenly, viral memes declaring Dr. Frank-n-Furter from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" as a technical Disney Princess were inescapable. Ignoring the blatant inaccuracy of that statement, it does serve as a reminder that Disney is and will likely forever be synonymous with family-friendly fare.
When Steve Asbell took over as president of 20th Century Studios, he spoke with The Hollywood Reporter and assured everyone that despite being a part of Disney, this branch would be closer to "general entertainment," saying, "Some films will be more Disney-adjacent — 'Avatar,...
When The Walt Disney Company first acquired 20th Century Studios, fans had a field day joking about the characters in their library that were now under the Disney banner. Ripley from "Alien," Tyler Durden from "Fight Club," the titular "Predator," and all of the "Planet of the Apes" characters were now residents at the House of Mouse. Suddenly, viral memes declaring Dr. Frank-n-Furter from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" as a technical Disney Princess were inescapable. Ignoring the blatant inaccuracy of that statement, it does serve as a reminder that Disney is and will likely forever be synonymous with family-friendly fare.
When Steve Asbell took over as president of 20th Century Studios, he spoke with The Hollywood Reporter and assured everyone that despite being a part of Disney, this branch would be closer to "general entertainment," saying, "Some films will be more Disney-adjacent — 'Avatar,...
- 4/5/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Richard Donner's 1976 horror film "The Omen" is an undeniable classic. The supposed real-life curse surrounding the film's production has transported the movie to a level of infamy, and countless horror fans can recall the first time they saw a bright-eyed nanny exclaim "It's all for you, Damien!" before intentionally hanging herself in full view of an audience of horrified child's birthday party attendees. The film spawned three sequels and a "time to profit off the 06/06/06 calendar date" remake in 2006, but plenty of horror fans still view the original "The Omen" as sacred text. Fortunately, this is how "The First Omen" co-writer/director Arkasha Stevenson and co-writer Tim Smith view the film as well.
The latest genre release from 20th Century Studios, "The First Omen" is a prequel film set in the 1970s, dovetailing directly into Donner's 1976 masterpiece. The story follows a young nun named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) who joins a convent in Rome,...
The latest genre release from 20th Century Studios, "The First Omen" is a prequel film set in the 1970s, dovetailing directly into Donner's 1976 masterpiece. The story follows a young nun named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) who joins a convent in Rome,...
- 4/5/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Nell Tiger Free in The First OmenPhoto: Moris Puccio/20th Century Studios
Horror prequels have a tendency to fizzle for a number of reasons, whether they lean too hard on the lore of the original or they start telegraphing all the punches that made the film they’re prequelizing scary to begin with.
Horror prequels have a tendency to fizzle for a number of reasons, whether they lean too hard on the lore of the original or they start telegraphing all the punches that made the film they’re prequelizing scary to begin with.
- 4/5/2024
- by Matthew Jackson
- avclub.com
The First Omen releases in theaters on April 5th, 2024.
I don’t know to what extent The Omen (1976) is considered a classic, but the truth is that it was one of the most profitable films of its respective year, it has one of the most memorable scores of that decade – so much so that it even won an Oscar, something extremely rare considering the genre – and, of course, it spawned several sequels and even a remake over all these years. The First Omen is the sixth installment of the franchise and, as the title indicates, it’s a prequel to the original movie. It’s also the directorial debut of Arkasha Stevenson who also co-writes the screenplay along with Tim Smith and Keith Tomas (Firestarter).
Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free) is a young American woman sent to Rome to start a devout life for the church, but she encounters strange...
I don’t know to what extent The Omen (1976) is considered a classic, but the truth is that it was one of the most profitable films of its respective year, it has one of the most memorable scores of that decade – so much so that it even won an Oscar, something extremely rare considering the genre – and, of course, it spawned several sequels and even a remake over all these years. The First Omen is the sixth installment of the franchise and, as the title indicates, it’s a prequel to the original movie. It’s also the directorial debut of Arkasha Stevenson who also co-writes the screenplay along with Tim Smith and Keith Tomas (Firestarter).
Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free) is a young American woman sent to Rome to start a devout life for the church, but she encounters strange...
- 4/5/2024
- by Manuel São Bento
- FandomWire
The First Omen Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Nell Tiger Free, Tawkeef Barhom, Sonia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy
Director: Arkasha Stevenson
The First Omen Movie Review Out ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
What’s Good: The story and the performances
What’s Bad: The first half is a bit slow
Loo Break: You can take one in the first half if you can’t control
Watch or Not?: If you are craving some good horror & are a fan of the franchise – Yes
Language: English
Available On: Theatrical release
Runtime: 120 Minutes
User Rating:
The First Omen is a prequel to The Omen (1976) that gave us the horrific world of Damien and everything evil that followed. The 2024 film is set in 1971. Margaret (Nell Tiger Free), a young American, arrives in Rome to work at the Vizzardeli Orphanage, where she will take the veil. The more time Margaret spends in the orphanage, the...
Star Cast: Nell Tiger Free, Tawkeef Barhom, Sonia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy
Director: Arkasha Stevenson
The First Omen Movie Review Out ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
What’s Good: The story and the performances
What’s Bad: The first half is a bit slow
Loo Break: You can take one in the first half if you can’t control
Watch or Not?: If you are craving some good horror & are a fan of the franchise – Yes
Language: English
Available On: Theatrical release
Runtime: 120 Minutes
User Rating:
The First Omen is a prequel to The Omen (1976) that gave us the horrific world of Damien and everything evil that followed. The 2024 film is set in 1971. Margaret (Nell Tiger Free), a young American, arrives in Rome to work at the Vizzardeli Orphanage, where she will take the veil. The more time Margaret spends in the orphanage, the...
- 4/5/2024
- by Pooja Darade
- KoiMoi
Spoiler Alert: This article discusses plot points from “The First Omen.”
Director Arkasha Stevenson grew up as a fan of “The Omen” franchise, but any anxiety she felt about helming a prequel to the 1976 original was funneled into the potential of shifting the series’ perspective.
“It’s a pretty masculine franchise,” she says. “Exploring it through the point of view of a woman was exciting. It felt like it validated its place because it already had something new to say.”
The result is “The First Omen,” the sixth film in the franchise, which was last seen in a 2006 reboot. This feature, Stevenson’s first after directing episodes of television series like “Channel Zero” and “Brand New Cherry Flavor,” puts the events in motion to start the sprawling tale of Damien, a little boy who is the Antichrist. This kickoff chapter follows a young American woman named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free...
Director Arkasha Stevenson grew up as a fan of “The Omen” franchise, but any anxiety she felt about helming a prequel to the 1976 original was funneled into the potential of shifting the series’ perspective.
“It’s a pretty masculine franchise,” she says. “Exploring it through the point of view of a woman was exciting. It felt like it validated its place because it already had something new to say.”
The result is “The First Omen,” the sixth film in the franchise, which was last seen in a 2006 reboot. This feature, Stevenson’s first after directing episodes of television series like “Channel Zero” and “Brand New Cherry Flavor,” puts the events in motion to start the sprawling tale of Damien, a little boy who is the Antichrist. This kickoff chapter follows a young American woman named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free...
- 4/4/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
What to expect when you’re expecting … the Antichrist?
Filmmaker Arkasha Stevenson delivers her gleefully gruesome answer to that increasingly popular question in 20th Century’s terrifying and triumphant “The First Omen.” It’s a nominally named soft franchise reboot and the vastly superior (if accidental) answer to Neon’s “Immaculate” with Sydney Sweeney, also in theaters now.
Yes, both horror films explore what happens when a child of Christ is involuntarily forced to carry a demon baby to term. And yes, both movies have some merit; trite but true, Damien just doesn’t have that “Cassie from ‘Euphoria’” pull. But only Stevenson’s spin on “The Omen” can tie its borderline Nc-17 terror to a multi-decade genre legacy suddenly feasting on noticeably improved visual artistry and a narratively satisfying revamp of stale IP.
In “The First Omen,” Nell Tiger Free stars as Margaret, an American nun in training come...
Filmmaker Arkasha Stevenson delivers her gleefully gruesome answer to that increasingly popular question in 20th Century’s terrifying and triumphant “The First Omen.” It’s a nominally named soft franchise reboot and the vastly superior (if accidental) answer to Neon’s “Immaculate” with Sydney Sweeney, also in theaters now.
Yes, both horror films explore what happens when a child of Christ is involuntarily forced to carry a demon baby to term. And yes, both movies have some merit; trite but true, Damien just doesn’t have that “Cassie from ‘Euphoria’” pull. But only Stevenson’s spin on “The Omen” can tie its borderline Nc-17 terror to a multi-decade genre legacy suddenly feasting on noticeably improved visual artistry and a narratively satisfying revamp of stale IP.
In “The First Omen,” Nell Tiger Free stars as Margaret, an American nun in training come...
- 4/4/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
A film can live or die by its club scene. A successful one captures the dance floor as a world onto itself. As Barbara Ehrenreich theorizes in Dancing in the Streets, it’s a place of “ecstatic ritual.” And as evinced by one thrilling sequence from Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen, a prequel to 1976’s The Omen, it’s where the divine and the blasphemous dance hand in hand. In the film, soaring choral notes blur the lines between the holy and the profane, just as the club’s strobing lights derange the thrillingly sexy and the dangerous.
The night before she takes the veil, Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) trepidatiously grabs her last opportunity to experience what she’s about to relinquish to the Catholic Church. The young American, who’s recently relocated to Rome to work at a convent that runs an orphanage, trades her novitiate garb for...
The night before she takes the veil, Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) trepidatiously grabs her last opportunity to experience what she’s about to relinquish to the Catholic Church. The young American, who’s recently relocated to Rome to work at a convent that runs an orphanage, trades her novitiate garb for...
- 4/4/2024
- by Kyle Turner
- Slant Magazine
Nell Tiger Free as Margaret and Nicole Sorace as Carlita in ‘The First Omen’ (Photo © 2024 20th Century Studios)
Over the almost fifty years of its existence, The Omen franchise has been a rollercoaster. The original The Omen was terrifying. The sequel, Damien: Omen II ventured a bit into Final Destination territory, but still had its chills and thrills. Omen III: The Final Conflict went truly crazy yet still remained a horror film, while the television movie Omen IV: The Awakening bordered on the absurd with its unintentional hilarity. And then, in 2006, The Omen received the 21st century’s badge of horror honor/shame – the pointless shot-for-shot remake.
Now, the series is attempting a bounce-back with The First Omen.
Just as its title suggests, The First Omen takes place before the events of The Omen. Set in 1971, the story revolves around a young American nun-to-be named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free from...
Over the almost fifty years of its existence, The Omen franchise has been a rollercoaster. The original The Omen was terrifying. The sequel, Damien: Omen II ventured a bit into Final Destination territory, but still had its chills and thrills. Omen III: The Final Conflict went truly crazy yet still remained a horror film, while the television movie Omen IV: The Awakening bordered on the absurd with its unintentional hilarity. And then, in 2006, The Omen received the 21st century’s badge of horror honor/shame – the pointless shot-for-shot remake.
Now, the series is attempting a bounce-back with The First Omen.
Just as its title suggests, The First Omen takes place before the events of The Omen. Set in 1971, the story revolves around a young American nun-to-be named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free from...
- 4/4/2024
- by James Jay Edwards
- Showbiz Junkies
Nobody could predict that a theatrical Omen prequel would go as hard as Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen. There’s minimal wiggle room for narrative surprises leading into 1976’s blasphemous horror tale about the antichrist, yet Stevenson oversees a frightening and stimulating franchise origin. Rosemary’s Baby and The Omen surface as obvious sources of inspiration, but The First Omen compares cleanest to Neon’s religion-roasting Sydney Sweeney vehicle Immaculate. Stevenson unleashes astonishingly graphic imagery that’d make Immaculate blush, and despite how the two-hour running time presents laggy pacing issues, The First Omen successfully executes standalone appeal while fulfilling its promise of being all for you, Damien.
The film’s events occur in Rome’s Vizzardeli Orphanage, where American candidate Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free) transfers to earn her status as a Sister. Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy) extends a familiar welcome since he’s known Margaret since childhood.
The film’s events occur in Rome’s Vizzardeli Orphanage, where American candidate Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free) transfers to earn her status as a Sister. Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy) extends a familiar welcome since he’s known Margaret since childhood.
- 4/4/2024
- by Matt Donato
- DailyDead
Richard Donner’s The Omen begins June 6, at 6 am in Rome, with the birth of the Antichrist and his adoption into an affluent American family. Damien Thorn’s birth and subsequent reign of terror, preordained by franchise canon, make approaching a prequel to a heralded horror classic a daunting task. Director Arkasha Stevenson makes it look effortless with The First Omen, a masterclass in form matched by its compelling horror and characters.
The First Omen, set in 1971, follows American novitiate Margaret Daino (“Servant” star Nell Tiger Free) as she’s sent to Rome to work in an orphanage before she takes the veil. As Margaret adapts to not just her new vocation but an entirely new country and a city in the throes of unrest, she finds herself drawn to socially withdrawn orphan Carlita (Nicole Sorace). It’s through her bond with and concern for Carlita that Margaret notices something amiss within the convent.
The First Omen, set in 1971, follows American novitiate Margaret Daino (“Servant” star Nell Tiger Free) as she’s sent to Rome to work in an orphanage before she takes the veil. As Margaret adapts to not just her new vocation but an entirely new country and a city in the throes of unrest, she finds herself drawn to socially withdrawn orphan Carlita (Nicole Sorace). It’s through her bond with and concern for Carlita that Margaret notices something amiss within the convent.
- 4/4/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
When compared to "classier" Satanic contemporaries like "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Exorcist," Richard Donner's 1976 hit "The Omen" is the pulpiest of the lot. "The Omen" had no interest in the sexist panic of the former, nor the religious angst of the latter, settling instead in the realm of spooky thrillers, replete with cool kills, portentous Satanic language, and an awesome score (a score that brought Jerry Goldsmith his only Oscar). There's no ambiguity to "The Omen," being clear from the start that Gregory Peck and Lee Remick are indeed raising the Antichrist. The pop Satanism "The Omen" introduced into the lexicon has now become standard horror fare, and was even spoofed at length in the TV series "Good Omens."
"The Omen" spawned one okay sequel ("Damien: Omen II" in 1978), one risibly bad sequel ("The Final Conflict" in 1981), and one miserably bad sequel ("Omen IV: The Awakening" in 1991) before succumbing...
"The Omen" spawned one okay sequel ("Damien: Omen II" in 1978), one risibly bad sequel ("The Final Conflict" in 1981), and one miserably bad sequel ("Omen IV: The Awakening" in 1991) before succumbing...
- 4/4/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
It’s a bit of a mixed bag being a nun in The First Omen. One minute you’re enjoying smutty talk with the sisters while peeling potatoes, or jumping on a trampoline smoking a cig, and the next you’re at the center of a terrifying conspiracy which could change the world as we know it.
A direct prequel to the original 1976 Richard Donner movie, at it’s best The First Omen is an intriguing bit of new lore for a beloved franchise that is also very much its own film—and an intensely female one at that. Director Arkasha Steveson, who makes her feature debut here but is best know for TV including Channel Zero, Legion, and Brand New Cherry Flavor, shows whispers of the indie auteur in her directing style. There’s an art house, elevated body horror within the trappings of this franchise movie which marks...
A direct prequel to the original 1976 Richard Donner movie, at it’s best The First Omen is an intriguing bit of new lore for a beloved franchise that is also very much its own film—and an intensely female one at that. Director Arkasha Steveson, who makes her feature debut here but is best know for TV including Channel Zero, Legion, and Brand New Cherry Flavor, shows whispers of the indie auteur in her directing style. There’s an art house, elevated body horror within the trappings of this franchise movie which marks...
- 4/4/2024
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
Nell Tiger Free is a terrified nun who discovers a dark secret at the heart of the Catholic church. Here’s our The First Omen review.
After what felt like an eternity of no decent or exciting horror films, we’re incredibly lucky to have three land in our laps within a few weeks. We’ve already been impressed by Sydney Sweeney’s powerhouse performance in Immaculate and terrified silly by David Dastmalchian’s talk show horror with a satanic spin in Late Night With The Devil, but I doubt any of us expecting The First Omen, a prequel to Richard Donner’s 1976 film The Omen, to join those two as early favourites for the best horror films of 2024.
We’ve been burned many times with these prequels, reboots and sequels which heavily borrow from some of our favourite classic horror films. The Exorcist: Believer is still all too fresh in our minds…...
After what felt like an eternity of no decent or exciting horror films, we’re incredibly lucky to have three land in our laps within a few weeks. We’ve already been impressed by Sydney Sweeney’s powerhouse performance in Immaculate and terrified silly by David Dastmalchian’s talk show horror with a satanic spin in Late Night With The Devil, but I doubt any of us expecting The First Omen, a prequel to Richard Donner’s 1976 film The Omen, to join those two as early favourites for the best horror films of 2024.
We’ve been burned many times with these prequels, reboots and sequels which heavily borrow from some of our favourite classic horror films. The Exorcist: Believer is still all too fresh in our minds…...
- 4/4/2024
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
“Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” spat Hamlet. “Get thee to a nunnery!” Oh, if the Prince of Darkness … er, Denmark, only knew what evil lurks within such walls.
In the first “Omen” movie, the infant Antichrist, Damien — born at 6 a.m. on the sixth day of the sixth month — is given to an American diplomat and his wife to be raised as their own. The adoptive father is told that the boy’s mother died during childbirth, but upon closer investigation, he discovers not a human skeleton but that of a jackal. For nearly half a century, that was practically all the backstory audiences needed for “The Omen” to remain one of the most terrifying movies ever made.
Now comes “The First Omen,” the latest in a frenzy of high-profile prequels fleshing out the origins of long-running franchises. Tapping into another trend, “The Omen” also got the...
In the first “Omen” movie, the infant Antichrist, Damien — born at 6 a.m. on the sixth day of the sixth month — is given to an American diplomat and his wife to be raised as their own. The adoptive father is told that the boy’s mother died during childbirth, but upon closer investigation, he discovers not a human skeleton but that of a jackal. For nearly half a century, that was practically all the backstory audiences needed for “The Omen” to remain one of the most terrifying movies ever made.
Now comes “The First Omen,” the latest in a frenzy of high-profile prequels fleshing out the origins of long-running franchises. Tapping into another trend, “The Omen” also got the...
- 4/4/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
‘The First Omen’ Director Arkasha Stevenson Says Classic Horror Franchise Has Plenty of Stories Left
In her feature directorial debut, The First Omen filmmaker Arkasha Stevenson has pulled off the delicate balance between homage and invention. Prequels are always tricky in this regard, but it’s especially difficult when it involves Richard Donner’s horror classic, The Omen (1976). Stevenson’s assignment, in conjunction with her co-writer and producer Tim Smith, was to tell the origin story of how Damien Thorn came into the world and who gave birth to the franchise’s indelible Antichrist character.
Set in 1971, Stevenson’s story begins with the arrival of novitiate Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free) at a Rome-based orphanage, and she soon discovers a sinister plot to birth the Antichrist in order for the Catholic Church to regain its grip on the counterculture society of the ’60s and ’70s. But, before she’s knee deep in the conspiracy, Margaret witnesses a pregnant mother giving birth to something that causes...
Set in 1971, Stevenson’s story begins with the arrival of novitiate Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free) at a Rome-based orphanage, and she soon discovers a sinister plot to birth the Antichrist in order for the Catholic Church to regain its grip on the counterculture society of the ’60s and ’70s. But, before she’s knee deep in the conspiracy, Margaret witnesses a pregnant mother giving birth to something that causes...
- 4/3/2024
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Nell Tiger Free (“Servant”) stars in The First Omen, an upcoming prequel to the original 1976 horror classic directed by Arkasha Stevenson.
The new prequel movie from 20th Century Studios will unleash hell in theaters on April 5, 2024. It’s rated “R” for “Violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity.”
The First Omen is based on characters created by David Seltzer (The Omen), with a story by Ben Jacoby (“Bleed”) and a screenplay by Tim Smith & Arkasha Stevenson and Keith Thomas (Firestarter). It follows young novitiate Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) as she’s sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church. There, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.
Ahead of the film’s release, Bloody Disgusting spoke with filmmaker Arkasha Stevenson about tackling a prequel to a heralded classic,...
The new prequel movie from 20th Century Studios will unleash hell in theaters on April 5, 2024. It’s rated “R” for “Violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity.”
The First Omen is based on characters created by David Seltzer (The Omen), with a story by Ben Jacoby (“Bleed”) and a screenplay by Tim Smith & Arkasha Stevenson and Keith Thomas (Firestarter). It follows young novitiate Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) as she’s sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church. There, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.
Ahead of the film’s release, Bloody Disgusting spoke with filmmaker Arkasha Stevenson about tackling a prequel to a heralded classic,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
[Editor’s note: The following interview contains some spoilers for “The First Omen.”]
In the final act of Richard Donner’s iconic 1976 horror feature “The Omen,” star Gregory Peck — driven almost mad by the realization this his adopted son Damien is probably the Antichrist — heads to the Italian cemetery where Damien’s cursed biological mother is said to be buried. When he cracks open her grave, he’s not entirely surprised to find, not the skeleton of a young woman, but of a large jackal. After all, he’s already been told Damien is the product of a satanic breeding ritual between the devil himself and a willing female jackal.
What Arkasha Stevenson’s prequel feature “The First Omen” presupposes is: What if Damien’s mother wasn’t actually a jackal? In the pantheon of horror classic remakes and reimaginings — like “Halloween” and “The Exorcist,” to name some recent offerings — it’s a hell of a starting point. A smart one,...
In the final act of Richard Donner’s iconic 1976 horror feature “The Omen,” star Gregory Peck — driven almost mad by the realization this his adopted son Damien is probably the Antichrist — heads to the Italian cemetery where Damien’s cursed biological mother is said to be buried. When he cracks open her grave, he’s not entirely surprised to find, not the skeleton of a young woman, but of a large jackal. After all, he’s already been told Damien is the product of a satanic breeding ritual between the devil himself and a willing female jackal.
What Arkasha Stevenson’s prequel feature “The First Omen” presupposes is: What if Damien’s mother wasn’t actually a jackal? In the pantheon of horror classic remakes and reimaginings — like “Halloween” and “The Exorcist,” to name some recent offerings — it’s a hell of a starting point. A smart one,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
On April 5th, 20th Century Studios will be giving a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here) – and with the release date just a few days away, a featurette has made its way online to give us a preview of this dark origin story. You can check it out in the embed above.
The film stars Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant, and will be hitting the big screen with an R rating for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity… although it nearly got an Nc-17.
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer. Here’s the synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to...
The film stars Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant, and will be hitting the big screen with an R rating for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity… although it nearly got an Nc-17.
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer. Here’s the synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to...
- 4/2/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The First Omen is a direct prequel to The Omen that exists very deliberately within that world. There are visual nods to the first film as well as introductions to characters who we will see in more depth in the ‘76 Richard Donner original. It’s an Easter egg hunter’s heaven. But The First Omen is still very much its own film, and it’s very deliberately a female one.
Following Margaret (Nell Tiger Free), who travels to Rome to take the veil and be initiated into the church, it’s a movie populated predominantly with women, from the Abbesses and Sisters of the orphanage to the orphan girls the nuns take care of. It was also an element that was incredibly important to director Arkasha Stevenson.
“When I inherited the script, it was an Omen prequel already,” Stevenson explains. “The bones were already in place. I work with a...
Following Margaret (Nell Tiger Free), who travels to Rome to take the veil and be initiated into the church, it’s a movie populated predominantly with women, from the Abbesses and Sisters of the orphanage to the orphan girls the nuns take care of. It was also an element that was incredibly important to director Arkasha Stevenson.
“When I inherited the script, it was an Omen prequel already,” Stevenson explains. “The bones were already in place. I work with a...
- 4/2/2024
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
On April 5th, 20th Century Studios will be giving a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here) – but some reviewers, including JoBlo’s own JimmyO, have already had the chance to see the movie, and their largely positive reactions started hitting social media last night. We have assembled some of them below, and some of the descriptions used in these reactions include disturbing, chilling, stunning, fascinating, and unrepentantly ghoulish.
The film stars Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant, and will be hitting the big screen with an R rating for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity… although it nearly got an Nc-17.
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer. Here’s the synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to...
The film stars Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant, and will be hitting the big screen with an R rating for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity… although it nearly got an Nc-17.
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer. Here’s the synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to...
- 3/27/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
On April 5th, 20th Century Studios will be giving a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here) – and the studio is embracing the film’s ’70s roots in their latest pieces of marketing, as they have unveiled both a ’70s-style trailer, which you can check out in the embed above, and a retro poster, which can be found at the bottom of this article.
The film stars Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant, and will be hitting the big screen with an R rating for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity… although it nearly got an Nc-17.
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer. Here’s the synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church,...
The film stars Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant, and will be hitting the big screen with an R rating for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity… although it nearly got an Nc-17.
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer. Here’s the synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
2024 is shaping up to be a great year to be a horror fan and certified Sicko™ because every day seems to bring a fresh bit of news guaranteed to scare the squares. Michael Mohan and Sydney Sweeney's "Immaculate" is causing a moral panic among conservatives, "Late Night with the Devil" is allegedly bringing in dollar amounts that match the mark of the beast, and it was recently revealed that "The First Omen" had to fight with the Motion Picture Association to earn an R-rating after receiving five separate Nc-17 hits. During an interview with Fangoria, director Arkasha Stevenson talked about making the sixth film in "The Omen" franchise and the first prequel film in the series, which included a "long battle" with the MPA over the film's content.
Typically, when horror films are given the Nc-17 rating, it's due to extreme violence or gore, but as Fangoria found out,...
Typically, when horror films are given the Nc-17 rating, it's due to extreme violence or gore, but as Fangoria found out,...
- 3/26/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
On April 5th, 20th Century Studios will be giving a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here). The film stars Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant, and will be hitting the big screen with an R rating for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity. That’s a rating the filmmakers really had to fight for, as director Arkasha Stevenson revealed to Fangoria that there’s a birthing scene that nearly earned the film an Nc-17 rating – mainly because it featured a thirteen second shot of a woman’s vagina. That shot had to be whittled down to secure the R.
Stevenson said, “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is. This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film.
Stevenson said, “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is. This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film.
- 3/25/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Coming soon from 20th Century Studios, prequel The First Omen is rated “R” for “Violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity,” but director Arkasha Stevenson reveals in a new chat with Fangoria that it was almost too extreme for that rating.
Without spoiling anything, Stevenson explains to Fangoria that there’s a sequence in The First Omen where a woman is forced to give birth, and the “graphic nudity” in that scene is what almost landed the upcoming prequel movie an Nc-17 rating from the MPA.
Stevenson previews, “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is. This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards. If we were going to talk about female body horror, we were going to talk about forced reproduction,...
Without spoiling anything, Stevenson explains to Fangoria that there’s a sequence in The First Omen where a woman is forced to give birth, and the “graphic nudity” in that scene is what almost landed the upcoming prequel movie an Nc-17 rating from the MPA.
Stevenson previews, “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is. This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards. If we were going to talk about female body horror, we were going to talk about forced reproduction,...
- 3/25/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
On April 5th, 20th Century Studios will be giving a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here). The film stars Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant, and with its release date just a couple weeks away, poster designer Creepy Duck Design has unveiled an official new poster for the film. You can check it out at the bottom of this article.
Creepy Duck Design has previously created official posters for such films as Scream (2022), Terrifier 2, Barbarian, The Black Phone, and Smile, among others.
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer. Here’s the synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and...
Creepy Duck Design has previously created official posters for such films as Scream (2022), Terrifier 2, Barbarian, The Black Phone, and Smile, among others.
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer. Here’s the synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and...
- 3/22/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
CBS Studios and the BBC’s period drama series “King & Conqueror” has revealed additional cast members, including “The Crown’s” Luther Ford and “Game of Thrones” actor Joseph Mawle, as it begins production in Iceland.
According to its official plot description, “King & Conqueror” is “the story of a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a raging sea. Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; two allies with no design on the British throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown.”
Additional cast members include Eddie Marsan, Juliet Stevenson, Jean-Marc Barr, Geoff Bell, Elliot Cowan,...
According to its official plot description, “King & Conqueror” is “the story of a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a raging sea. Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; two allies with no design on the British throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown.”
Additional cast members include Eddie Marsan, Juliet Stevenson, Jean-Marc Barr, Geoff Bell, Elliot Cowan,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Ellise Shafer and K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
“Always be two steps ahead,” repeatedly says Rachel Hyde, the famous alter ego of the namesake character in Hammer Studios’ “Doctor Jekyll.” The film’s director, Joe Stephenson, and his screenwriter Dan Kelly-Mulhern don’t take her advice, and it’s much to the detriment of their contemporary adaptation of the 1886 Robert Louis Stevenson novella, which can’t decide singularly what Jekyll’s transformation is a metaphor for. All volunteered options are either obvious or severely undercooked. Though Stephenson offers plenty of suitably spooky imagery, and importantly finds a more-than-game collaborator in Izzard as both the good and evil doctor, “Doctor Jekyll” is meandering and empty, an update with neither enough loyalty to its source material or imagination to make its departures meaningful.
The film stars Scott Chambers as Rob Stevenson, a just-released ex-convict whose brother Ewan (Morgan Watkins) secures him a job “providing care” for Dr. Nina Jekyll (Izzard...
The film stars Scott Chambers as Rob Stevenson, a just-released ex-convict whose brother Ewan (Morgan Watkins) secures him a job “providing care” for Dr. Nina Jekyll (Izzard...
- 3/15/2024
- by Todd Gilchrist
- Variety Film + TV
Shaun and his best mate Ed are in trouble. They’ve discovered two zombies in their garden, and the lumbering flesh-eaters show no signs of stopping. However, Shaun and Ed have found one way of slowing the approach: throwing records.
And so, as the two zombies grow closer, Ed and Shaun rustle through the latter’s collection. “Sign o’ the Times … Purple Rain,” Ed suggests as projectiles, only to have Shaun tell him no. That is until Ed reaches a low point in Prince’s discography, the Batman soundtrack. “Throw it,” Shaun commands, striking a blow against the living dead.
The above scene is just one instance of the humor and horror that director Edgar Wright and his co-writer Simon Pegg bring to the RomZomCom Shaun of the Dead, released twenty years ago. Shaun (Pegg) and Ed (Nick Frost) spend a lot of time discussing their pop-cultural interests, even in the most dire situations.
And so, as the two zombies grow closer, Ed and Shaun rustle through the latter’s collection. “Sign o’ the Times … Purple Rain,” Ed suggests as projectiles, only to have Shaun tell him no. That is until Ed reaches a low point in Prince’s discography, the Batman soundtrack. “Throw it,” Shaun commands, striking a blow against the living dead.
The above scene is just one instance of the humor and horror that director Edgar Wright and his co-writer Simon Pegg bring to the RomZomCom Shaun of the Dead, released twenty years ago. Shaun (Pegg) and Ed (Nick Frost) spend a lot of time discussing their pop-cultural interests, even in the most dire situations.
- 3/15/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Update: A new trailer and a new poster for The First Omen are now hear as well! You can watch the trailer in the embed above, then check out the new poster and the 30 second promo this article was originally written about at the bottom this article.
Here’s the original article:
On April 5th, 20th Century Studios will be giving a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here). The film stars Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant, and with its release date just a few weeks away, a new promo / TV spot has been unveiled. If you want to see a 30 second preview of what The First Omen has in store for us, check out the video embedded above.
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer.
Here’s the original article:
On April 5th, 20th Century Studios will be giving a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here). The film stars Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant, and with its release date just a few weeks away, a new promo / TV spot has been unveiled. If you want to see a 30 second preview of what The First Omen has in store for us, check out the video embedded above.
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer.
- 3/11/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
1976's "The Omen" still holds a special place in the minds of most horror fans, introducing audiences to the adorable demon spawn known as Damien and subsequently rewriting genre rules for decades to come. It only took a couple of years for the original movie to get a (much less well-received) sequel, and there was even a full-fledged remake back in 2006, so it's not as if turning this property into a franchise is anything new. In a sense, maybe it was only a matter of time before even this untouchable classic ended up getting a prequel origin story of its own ... never mind the fact that the original had most of its backstory pretty much covered already. No matter — here comes the prequel "The First Omen"!
But what if we told you our hype for this prequel was increasing, and that's primarily due to the involvement of "Servant" star Nell Tiger Free...
But what if we told you our hype for this prequel was increasing, and that's primarily due to the involvement of "Servant" star Nell Tiger Free...
- 3/11/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Plot: Recently released from prison, former thief and drug addict Rob gets a job caring for Doctor Nina Jekyll, who’s recovering from a broken leg. But the more time Rob spends around Nina, the more it becomes clear there’s something strange going on in the Jekyll mansion.
Review: Founded in 1934, the Hammer film production company became very popular when it started releasing horror films in the mid-1950s. From that point through the early ‘70s, Hammer was one of the biggest names in horror… but then they found it hard to compete with the big horror films of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, and things gradually fell apart for them. In 1979, the company went into liquidation. Attempts to revive the Hammer brand began in 2008, and we’ve seen some notable releases from the company in recent years: Let Me In, The Resident, The Woman in Black, and The Lodge among them.
Review: Founded in 1934, the Hammer film production company became very popular when it started releasing horror films in the mid-1950s. From that point through the early ‘70s, Hammer was one of the biggest names in horror… but then they found it hard to compete with the big horror films of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, and things gradually fell apart for them. In 1979, the company went into liquidation. Attempts to revive the Hammer brand began in 2008, and we’ve seen some notable releases from the company in recent years: Let Me In, The Resident, The Woman in Black, and The Lodge among them.
- 3/7/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
“I’ve seen Paris, France, and Paris, Paramount Pictures,” Ernst Lubitsch said, or so they say, “and on the whole I prefer Paris, Paramount Pictures.”
The great director’s preference for the Hollywood city of lights over the French one expresses a common enough affinity for illusion over reality, but the studio in question was not chosen for alliteration alone. If gritty Warner Bros. specialized in mean streets and threadbare apartments and glitzy MGM spent big on grand hotels and emerald cities, Paramount transported moviegoers into realms of dreamy exoticism, allegedly set in Vienna, Budapest or St. Petersburg, but conjured with better-than-the-original costuming, set design, lighting and dialogue. In an age before jumbo jets, who was to quibble over verisimilitude?
A new version of Paramount looks to be a-borning: Controlling stakeholder Shari Redstone may put her company on the auction block. Whatever conglomerate or mogul buys the assets, it’ll...
The great director’s preference for the Hollywood city of lights over the French one expresses a common enough affinity for illusion over reality, but the studio in question was not chosen for alliteration alone. If gritty Warner Bros. specialized in mean streets and threadbare apartments and glitzy MGM spent big on grand hotels and emerald cities, Paramount transported moviegoers into realms of dreamy exoticism, allegedly set in Vienna, Budapest or St. Petersburg, but conjured with better-than-the-original costuming, set design, lighting and dialogue. In an age before jumbo jets, who was to quibble over verisimilitude?
A new version of Paramount looks to be a-borning: Controlling stakeholder Shari Redstone may put her company on the auction block. Whatever conglomerate or mogul buys the assets, it’ll...
- 2/29/2024
- by Thomas Doherty
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On April 5th, 20th Century Studios will be giving a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here). The film stars Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant, and Total Film has just unveiled a new image from The First Omen that features Free’s character.
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer. Here’s the synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.
Free is joined in the cast by Tawfeek Barhom (Mary Magdalene), Sonia Braga (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Ralph Ineson (The Northman), and Bill Nighy (Living...
The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer. Here’s the synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.
Free is joined in the cast by Tawfeek Barhom (Mary Magdalene), Sonia Braga (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Ralph Ineson (The Northman), and Bill Nighy (Living...
- 2/29/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
“Professor T,” the crime series produced by Eagle Eye Drama, and starring Ben Miller (“Bridgerton”), has been greenlit for a fourth season by ITV and PBS Distribution.
Attracting audiences of over four million viewers on ITV and making a successful debut on France 3, the highly acclaimed drama has been sold to almost 120 territories worldwide.
Most recently, Telekom acquired rights in Germany, TV3 bought the series for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova 1 for Moldova, and BBC and Tvp for Poland. Seasons 1 and 2 were sold to Nova in Greece and Cyprus.
The series is handled internationally by Beta Film, while PBS Distribution holds North American rights.
“Professor T” is produced by London-based Eagle Eye for ITV and PBS Distribution, in association with Flanders-based Happy Duck Films, tapping the Belgian Tax Shelter.
Its Season 4 will be directed by Belgian helmers Dries Vos (“The Couple Next Door”) and Kaat Beels (“Hotel Beau Séjour...
Attracting audiences of over four million viewers on ITV and making a successful debut on France 3, the highly acclaimed drama has been sold to almost 120 territories worldwide.
Most recently, Telekom acquired rights in Germany, TV3 bought the series for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova 1 for Moldova, and BBC and Tvp for Poland. Seasons 1 and 2 were sold to Nova in Greece and Cyprus.
The series is handled internationally by Beta Film, while PBS Distribution holds North American rights.
“Professor T” is produced by London-based Eagle Eye for ITV and PBS Distribution, in association with Flanders-based Happy Duck Films, tapping the Belgian Tax Shelter.
Its Season 4 will be directed by Belgian helmers Dries Vos (“The Couple Next Door”) and Kaat Beels (“Hotel Beau Séjour...
- 2/28/2024
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
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