Despite pretty good reviews (including ours), The First Omen underperformed dramatically at the box office this winter. It was meant to reignite The Omen franchise. Still, with a domestic total of just under $20 million, it seems unlikely it succeeded in this goal (although it made an additional $30 million overseas). Initially, The First Omen was intended to be released directly to streaming via Hulu before getting a theatrical bow, and now it’s finally making its way to the service. The movie is set to come out on Hulu on May 30th, only two days after its PVOD release on May 28th.
Notably, the film will be released on physical media, with a Blu-ray and DVD release set for July 30th. That’s a departure for Disney, who produced the film, as their horror breakout hit Barbarian has yet to come out on Blu-ray or DVD.
The First Omen served as...
Notably, the film will be released on physical media, with a Blu-ray and DVD release set for July 30th. That’s a departure for Disney, who produced the film, as their horror breakout hit Barbarian has yet to come out on Blu-ray or DVD.
The First Omen served as...
- 5/13/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
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
After scaring up $52 million at the worldwide box office, the much-better-than-you’d-expect prequel The First Omen is headed home, Bloody Disgusting has learned this morning.
20th Century Studios will release director Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen, a prequel to the original horror classic The Omen, on at-home Digital on May 28, 2024.
The film will also hit Hulu on May 30, followed by Blu-ray & DVD on July 30.
Bonus Features include:
‘The Mystery of Margaret’ ‘The Director’s Vision’ ‘Signs of the First Omen’
The First Omen is an exceptional expansion on a classic, earning rave reviews across the board and impressing all of us here at Bloody Disgusting. Meagan Navarro wrote in her review, “Thanks to the exquisite craftsmanship on display, beguiling Gothic horror, an impeccable cast, and an emotional journey that packs a wallop, The First Omen stands strong on its own.”
“Arkasha Stevenson doesn’t just helm a prequel worthy...
20th Century Studios will release director Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen, a prequel to the original horror classic The Omen, on at-home Digital on May 28, 2024.
The film will also hit Hulu on May 30, followed by Blu-ray & DVD on July 30.
Bonus Features include:
‘The Mystery of Margaret’ ‘The Director’s Vision’ ‘Signs of the First Omen’
The First Omen is an exceptional expansion on a classic, earning rave reviews across the board and impressing all of us here at Bloody Disgusting. Meagan Navarro wrote in her review, “Thanks to the exquisite craftsmanship on display, beguiling Gothic horror, an impeccable cast, and an emotional journey that packs a wallop, The First Omen stands strong on its own.”
“Arkasha Stevenson doesn’t just helm a prequel worthy...
- 5/13/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.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
Last week, we saw the release of The First Omen, which was universally praised. I agree with Chris Bumbray’s review where he said it was “quite provocative, with several images, including a gruesome birthing scene, pushing the limits of the R-rating in a way I didn’t expect from a movie bankrolled by Disney.” And what I was personally most impressed with is how much it creates its own identity. Because if there’s one thing horror franchises have had an issue with, it’s carving its own path.
I still remember when the first trailer came out, and I was shocked to see the response. I felt the teaser was really cool and a unique way to present a film, as each shot was presented in reverse. So, I didn’t understand the hate that was thrown at it. But thinking about it more, I realized it really...
I still remember when the first trailer came out, and I was shocked to see the response. I felt the teaser was really cool and a unique way to present a film, as each shot was presented in reverse. So, I didn’t understand the hate that was thrown at it. But thinking about it more, I realized it really...
- 4/13/2024
- by Tyler Nichols
- JoBlo.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
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
For the first time in 18 years, the classic horror franchise The Omen is back on the big screen with director Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen, a prequel to the original 1976 classic.
The First Omen is the franchise’s first movie since the lackluster remake back in 2006, which ended its worldwide box office run with $119 million. How will the new movie stack up?
In its debut weekend, The First Omen scared up $8.3 million in the States and another $9.1 million internationally, for a worldwide box office debut of $17,463,000.
For the sake of comparison, that worldwide number almost matches the domestic opening weekend total of The Omen back in 2006, which debuted to $16 million in the United States.
The reported production budget for The First Omen was $30 million – about $5 million more than the 2006 remake – so it needs to make quite a bit more before it’s profitable.
But the story here isn’t...
The First Omen is the franchise’s first movie since the lackluster remake back in 2006, which ended its worldwide box office run with $119 million. How will the new movie stack up?
In its debut weekend, The First Omen scared up $8.3 million in the States and another $9.1 million internationally, for a worldwide box office debut of $17,463,000.
For the sake of comparison, that worldwide number almost matches the domestic opening weekend total of The Omen back in 2006, which debuted to $16 million in the United States.
The reported production budget for The First Omen was $30 million – about $5 million more than the 2006 remake – so it needs to make quite a bit more before it’s profitable.
But the story here isn’t...
- 4/8/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Now playing in theaters, better-than-you’d-expect horror prequel The First Omen makes a movie star out of Nell Tiger Free, whose performance in the film has been earning rave reviews across the board. Previously seen in the television series “Servant,” Nell Tiger Free is a big time horror fan, but what franchise would she most like to make her mark on next?
Speaking with Bloody Disgusting’s The Boo Crew Podcast ahead of The First Omen‘s release, Nell Tiger Free revealed that she’d love to play around in the Terrifier franchise!
The actress tells the podcast, “I would honestly jump into pretty much any franchise. I’d be so interested to have a go at being in Terrifier! I wanna face up to Art The Clown! I’m curious!”
Nell Tiger Free also gave a shout-out to Damien Leone’s Terrifier franchise in the latest issue of Fangoria Magazine.
Speaking with Bloody Disgusting’s The Boo Crew Podcast ahead of The First Omen‘s release, Nell Tiger Free revealed that she’d love to play around in the Terrifier franchise!
The actress tells the podcast, “I would honestly jump into pretty much any franchise. I’d be so interested to have a go at being in Terrifier! I wanna face up to Art The Clown! I’m curious!”
Nell Tiger Free also gave a shout-out to Damien Leone’s Terrifier franchise in the latest issue of Fangoria Magazine.
- 4/8/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Major spoilers for "Immaculate" and "The First Omen" follow.
There's a history of movies with oddly similar premises premiering within months of each other. "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact" both hit theaters in the summer of 1998, much like the Earth-shattering meteors featured in both films. The year before, there was "Volcano" and "Dante's Peak." 2022 gave us not one but two "Pinocchio" movies (with a clean victory for Guillermo del Toro's version).
This past month saw the latest case of dueling movies: "Immaculate," released on March 22, 2024, and "The First Omen," released on April 5, 2024. Both films are about American nuns who fly off to a new life in Italy. Once they arrive at the convent, the young sister discovers a sinister conspiracy at work and becomes pregnant via an unnatural conception. Unlike Mother Mary, the fruits of their wombs are not blessed.
"Immaculate," starring new starlet Sydney Sweeney as Sister Cecilia and directed by Michael Mohan,...
There's a history of movies with oddly similar premises premiering within months of each other. "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact" both hit theaters in the summer of 1998, much like the Earth-shattering meteors featured in both films. The year before, there was "Volcano" and "Dante's Peak." 2022 gave us not one but two "Pinocchio" movies (with a clean victory for Guillermo del Toro's version).
This past month saw the latest case of dueling movies: "Immaculate," released on March 22, 2024, and "The First Omen," released on April 5, 2024. Both films are about American nuns who fly off to a new life in Italy. Once they arrive at the convent, the young sister discovers a sinister conspiracy at work and becomes pregnant via an unnatural conception. Unlike Mother Mary, the fruits of their wombs are not blessed.
"Immaculate," starring new starlet Sydney Sweeney as Sister Cecilia and directed by Michael Mohan,...
- 4/7/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Damien Thorn is the antichrist, and the trilogy that tells his unholy tale remains popular almost fifty years later. Indeed, while putting together this Omen movie ranked list and revisiting the original franchise, I was surprised at how well the old movies held up. Omen fans will be happy that the series has been restarted in a pretty interesting way this weekend, with The First Omen a surprisingly excellent prequel to the original trilogy (check out our interviews with the director and cast here), even if it takes one large liberty involving Damien’s birth that some fans may have an issue with. So, how do the Omen films rank against each other? Let’s take a look, but remember that the Fox TV movie, Omen IV: The Awakening, is not included, as I’m sticking with feature films.
The Omen (2006):
There’s honestly no reason for this movie to exist.
The Omen (2006):
There’s honestly no reason for this movie to exist.
- 4/7/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
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
It’s a primate face-off at the box office this weekend, plus some old-fashioned Antichrist horror on the side. Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” looks to stick on top of domestic charts, holding off the opening weekend bows of Universal’s beat-em-up “Monkey Man” and 20th Century Studios’ horror revival “The First Omen.”
That kaiju victory lap probably has less to do with the staying power of “The New Empire” than the strength of its competition though. The blockbuster monster mash earned $8.5 million on Friday, down a steep 77% from its opening day a week ago. “The New Empire” could be eyeing a drop north of 60% across the three-day frame — not a superlatively large decline from a blockbuster’s opening weekend, but still a pretty sizable one. It puts in perspective the impressively slim 44% drop that fellow Legendary production “Dune: Part Two” faced in its sophomore outing.
That kaiju victory lap probably has less to do with the staying power of “The New Empire” than the strength of its competition though. The blockbuster monster mash earned $8.5 million on Friday, down a steep 77% from its opening day a week ago. “The New Empire” could be eyeing a drop north of 60% across the three-day frame — not a superlatively large decline from a blockbuster’s opening weekend, but still a pretty sizable one. It puts in perspective the impressively slim 44% drop that fellow Legendary production “Dune: Part Two” faced in its sophomore outing.
- 4/6/2024
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
This article contains multitudes of The First Omen and Immaculate spoilers.
One cannot envy the strange limbo Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen finds itself in this weekend. A macabre and fiendishly urgent spin on old school religious horror, it’s a film dripping with passion and fire despite its origins as a franchise installment. Unfortunately, it’s also a movie that uses an Italian setting awash in crucifixes and constrictive nun habits during a moment where another zeitgeisty chiller appears to be doing the same thing in the theater next door.
Yes, there is plenty of overlap between The First Omen and Michael Mohan and Sydney Sweeney’s Immaculate, right down to the setup of a sheltered American novice traveling to the Eternal City to take her final vows to Christ, and instead finding a lot of white collared men demanding a controlling interest in the marriage. And yet,...
One cannot envy the strange limbo Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen finds itself in this weekend. A macabre and fiendishly urgent spin on old school religious horror, it’s a film dripping with passion and fire despite its origins as a franchise installment. Unfortunately, it’s also a movie that uses an Italian setting awash in crucifixes and constrictive nun habits during a moment where another zeitgeisty chiller appears to be doing the same thing in the theater next door.
Yes, there is plenty of overlap between The First Omen and Michael Mohan and Sydney Sweeney’s Immaculate, right down to the setup of a sheltered American novice traveling to the Eternal City to take her final vows to Christ, and instead finding a lot of white collared men demanding a controlling interest in the marriage. And yet,...
- 4/6/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
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
This article contains major The First Omen spoilers.
It is said the Devil is in the details, and the details are quite devilish, indeed, in The First Omen. The surprisingly stylish and adroit chiller from first-time feature director Arkasha Stevenson takes the well-worn Hollywood formula of making a “story before the story” prequel, and actually conjures something drenched in atmosphere, originality, and modern urgency. Most of the time.
While the movie has a despairing timeliness in 2024 with its parable about a patriarchal system attempting to control and use women’s bodies to achieve their own power-hungry ends, The First Omen is still also a prequel to a film that was released almost 50 years ago. As such, it is forced to conclude where The Omen begins. And in the case of a franchise as steeped in opaque mysticism and religious dread as this, that kind of ending might baffle newcomers to the series.
It is said the Devil is in the details, and the details are quite devilish, indeed, in The First Omen. The surprisingly stylish and adroit chiller from first-time feature director Arkasha Stevenson takes the well-worn Hollywood formula of making a “story before the story” prequel, and actually conjures something drenched in atmosphere, originality, and modern urgency. Most of the time.
While the movie has a despairing timeliness in 2024 with its parable about a patriarchal system attempting to control and use women’s bodies to achieve their own power-hungry ends, The First Omen is still also a prequel to a film that was released almost 50 years ago. As such, it is forced to conclude where The Omen begins. And in the case of a franchise as steeped in opaque mysticism and religious dread as this, that kind of ending might baffle newcomers to the series.
- 4/5/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
[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
Los Angeles, California – March 26: Nell Tiger Free attends The First Omen – Premiere at Regency Village Theatre on March 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for 20th Century Studios) Copyright 2024 Getty Images Fans of Nell Tiger Free from Servant and Game of Thrones are in for a treat! She’s breaking new ground with The First Omen, her fourth film and a chilling entry into the horror genre. Want to know what inspired this change? (Click on the media bar below to hear Nell Tiger Free) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Nell_Tiger_Free_The_First_Omen_Making_Horror_Movies_.mp3 The First Omen in theaters now.
The post As Nell Tiger Free’s First Horror Film, ‘First Omen’ Was ‘Fantastically Entertaining’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
The post As Nell Tiger Free’s First Horror Film, ‘First Omen’ Was ‘Fantastically Entertaining’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 4/5/2024
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
This week's Empire Podcast has more guests than the Overlook Hotel, all chatting to Chris Hewitt about their new movies. First, producer Jordan Peele tells Chris why he was so taken by Dev Patel's directorial debut, Monkey Man, that he came on board to help it get a theatrical release. Plus, they also talk why Peele is no longer acting. [15:40 - 30:56 approx] Then, Rufus Sewell — who plays Prince Andrew in Scoop, a film based on the infamous 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis — and director Philip Martin talk about the task of playing one of the most famous men on the planet. [44:28 - 59:38 approx] And finally, while The First Omen — the prequel to The Omen, which shall henceforth be known as The Second Omen — is a terrifying tour de force, Chris' interview with its stars, Nell Tiger Free and Bill Nighy, is anything but as they talk about being dressed by the Vatican, being hit by lightning,...
- 4/5/2024
- by Chris Hewitt
- Empire - Movies
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
The horror prequel “The First Omen” and the action thriller “Monkey Man” arrive in theaters this weekend, but they’ll be no match for the mighty force of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”
20th Century Studios’ “The First Omen” opened with $725,000 in previews at the box office, while Universal’s “Monkey Man” opened a bit higher with $1.4 million.
It may be a close finish, but “The First Omen” is expected to pull away and finish in second place behind “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” The horror movie, a prequel to 1976’s classic “The Omen,” is projected to make between $14 million and $15 million in its opening weekend. “Monkey Man,” which was directed, co-written and stars Dev Patel, aims for a $12 million launch.
Last week’s box office champ, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” beat expectations and opened with a very strong $80 million. In its second weekend, Warner Bros....
20th Century Studios’ “The First Omen” opened with $725,000 in previews at the box office, while Universal’s “Monkey Man” opened a bit higher with $1.4 million.
It may be a close finish, but “The First Omen” is expected to pull away and finish in second place behind “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” The horror movie, a prequel to 1976’s classic “The Omen,” is projected to make between $14 million and $15 million in its opening weekend. “Monkey Man,” which was directed, co-written and stars Dev Patel, aims for a $12 million launch.
Last week’s box office champ, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” beat expectations and opened with a very strong $80 million. In its second weekend, Warner Bros....
- 4/5/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
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
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
Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut Monkey Man leads the new films at this weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, starting in 592 cinemas through Universal.
Directed, produced, from a story by and starring Patel, Monkey Man follows an anonymous young man who unleashes a campaign of violence against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother, and continue to systematically victimise the poor and powerless.
Filmed in early 2021, Netflix originally bought worldwide rights to Monkey Man. After Jordan Peele boarded the title as producer through his Monkeypaw Productions, Universal acquired it from Netflix earlier this year. It debuted at SXSW last month.
Directed, produced, from a story by and starring Patel, Monkey Man follows an anonymous young man who unleashes a campaign of violence against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother, and continue to systematically victimise the poor and powerless.
Filmed in early 2021, Netflix originally bought worldwide rights to Monkey Man. After Jordan Peele boarded the title as producer through his Monkeypaw Productions, Universal acquired it from Netflix earlier this year. It debuted at SXSW last month.
- 4/5/2024
- ScreenDaily
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
Arkasha Stevenson makes her feature film directorial debut with the prequel “The First Omen” and it truly delivers! It pays homage to the original 1976 “The Omen” while moving the narrative forward. Big credit goes to Nell Tiger Free as an American woman sent to Rome to work at an orphanage but discovers a dark
The post Nell Tiger Free and Arkasha Stevenson Talk “The First Omen” appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.
The post Nell Tiger Free and Arkasha Stevenson Talk “The First Omen” appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.
- 4/5/2024
- by manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
This article contains major spoilers for "The First Omen."Hello folks! Welcome back to Nunsploitation 2024: Battle of the Babies.
When last we left the saga of Damien Thorn, it was 1981, and Damien was played by the devilishly handsome Sam Neill in "The Final Conflict." In that film, the Antichrist nearly fulfilled his evil purpose in halting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, but was foiled by his one-time lover, journalist Kate Reynolds (Lisa Harrow), who through the grace of God and her own strength was able to fatally stab Damien with the magical dagger of Megiddo, the weapon that poor Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) failed to use against his adopted son Damien (Harvey Spencer Stephens) when he was a child in 1976.
If a 33-year-old Damien in 1981 seems implausible given that the first film sees Damien as merely five years of age and the 1978 sequel, "Damien: Omen II" follows the...
When last we left the saga of Damien Thorn, it was 1981, and Damien was played by the devilishly handsome Sam Neill in "The Final Conflict." In that film, the Antichrist nearly fulfilled his evil purpose in halting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, but was foiled by his one-time lover, journalist Kate Reynolds (Lisa Harrow), who through the grace of God and her own strength was able to fatally stab Damien with the magical dagger of Megiddo, the weapon that poor Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) failed to use against his adopted son Damien (Harvey Spencer Stephens) when he was a child in 1976.
If a 33-year-old Damien in 1981 seems implausible given that the first film sees Damien as merely five years of age and the 1978 sequel, "Damien: Omen II" follows the...
- 4/4/2024
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
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
I am not sure the world asked for yet another take on 20th Century Fox’s Omen franchise, the constantly regurgitated series with Damien (who made the numbers 666 iconic) and company. Since the 1976 original, when Damien first appeared in the movie with Gregory Peck and Lee Remick, we have had Damien: Omen II, The Final Conflict, Omen IV: The Awakening (in which a girl becomes the antichrist for the first time), the 2006 remake The Omen, and even a 2016 Damien TV series. Of course, like all these horror franchises, it is inevitable someone would come up with the idea for an origin story, and that is what we now have with The First Omen, which is, of course, not the first, just the latest. But, set in 1971, it does attempt to take us right to the doorstep of the actual first, the Richard Donner-directed 1976 starter.
The past few months have...
The past few months have...
- 4/4/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
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 a young American woman is dispatched to Rome to embark on a life devoted to serving the Catholic Church she encounters a malevolent force that prompts her to question her own beliefs. Unveiling a chilling conspiracy aimed at ushering in the birth of pure evil, she soon finds herself grappling with profound existential doubts and utter terror.
Sound familiar? Remarkably, this isn’t the plot of the recently acclaimed horror film Immaculate starring Sidney Sweeney, which has garnered immense praise from horror enthusiasts and is poised to join the ranks of cult classics. Instead, it serves as the premise for the latest installment in the long-standing Omen franchise, set for release a mere two weeks after Sweeney’s film.
Directed by Arkasha Stevenson and based on a story by screenwriter Ben Jacoby, The First Omen serves as a direct prequel to Richard Donner and David Seltzer’s 1976 film and...
Sound familiar? Remarkably, this isn’t the plot of the recently acclaimed horror film Immaculate starring Sidney Sweeney, which has garnered immense praise from horror enthusiasts and is poised to join the ranks of cult classics. Instead, it serves as the premise for the latest installment in the long-standing Omen franchise, set for release a mere two weeks after Sweeney’s film.
Directed by Arkasha Stevenson and based on a story by screenwriter Ben Jacoby, The First Omen serves as a direct prequel to Richard Donner and David Seltzer’s 1976 film and...
- 4/4/2024
- by Linda Marric
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
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
In what feels like a (brief) return of twin films — two movies with very similar plots released at the same time, like "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon" — we now have "The First Omen" and "Immaculate" bringing Catholic horror and nunsploitation back to the big screen.
"The First Omen" takes us back to a sweet time in the '70s when everyone was obsessed with religious horror, thanks in no small part to the monumental success of "The Exorcist" and "Rosemary's Baby." The film is a prequel to Richard Donner's 1976 film "The Omen," about the coming of the Antichrist that also plays very much like a Catholic take on "Final Destination" — with photos that show the order and the gruesome manner in which several characters in the film will die.
"The First Omen" is a fantastic film, one that recontextualizes the events of the original and brings an air of mystery back to the franchise,...
"The First Omen" takes us back to a sweet time in the '70s when everyone was obsessed with religious horror, thanks in no small part to the monumental success of "The Exorcist" and "Rosemary's Baby." The film is a prequel to Richard Donner's 1976 film "The Omen," about the coming of the Antichrist that also plays very much like a Catholic take on "Final Destination" — with photos that show the order and the gruesome manner in which several characters in the film will die.
"The First Omen" is a fantastic film, one that recontextualizes the events of the original and brings an air of mystery back to the franchise,...
- 4/4/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
What To Watch This Weekend List. (Photo Credit – IMDb/Instagram)
It’s that time of the week when one wonders what to watch this weekend. The last week of March had some good releases due to a long weekend. But do not worry. April 2024 also comes with some entertaining surprises and quality content. From Manjummel Boys (Telugu version) to The Family Star, South Indian movie lovers have interesting options. There are some Hollywood releases, too.
If you do not want to step out and want to watch something sitting on your favourite couch, even the Ott platforms have good options for you. In this article, we have listed some titles that can make it to your what to watch this weekend list.
Take A Look At What to Watch This Weekend List For April Week 1 – Trending April 2024 Ott Releases: From HanuMan’s Final Arrival To Farrey & Amar Singh Chamkila, When...
It’s that time of the week when one wonders what to watch this weekend. The last week of March had some good releases due to a long weekend. But do not worry. April 2024 also comes with some entertaining surprises and quality content. From Manjummel Boys (Telugu version) to The Family Star, South Indian movie lovers have interesting options. There are some Hollywood releases, too.
If you do not want to step out and want to watch something sitting on your favourite couch, even the Ott platforms have good options for you. In this article, we have listed some titles that can make it to your what to watch this weekend list.
Take A Look At What to Watch This Weekend List For April Week 1 – Trending April 2024 Ott Releases: From HanuMan’s Final Arrival To Farrey & Amar Singh Chamkila, When...
- 4/4/2024
- by Pooja Darade
- KoiMoi
‘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
Legendary and Warner Bros.’ Godzilla v Kong: The New Empire is virtually assured of remaining No. 1 at the box office this weekend with $35 million or more — but that doesn’t mean things will be boring.
There’s a potentially close showdown brewing between Monkey Man — Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut — and The First Omen, a prequel to the classic supernatural horror pic The Omen.
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, his home studio on the movie side. (Monkey Man was originally set up at Netflix, but the filmmakers were eager to secure a traditional theatrical release). A revenge-thriller set in India, Patel’s critically acclaimed film is inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, as well as by the John Wick series.
There’s a potentially close showdown brewing between Monkey Man — Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut — and The First Omen, a prequel to the classic supernatural horror pic The Omen.
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, his home studio on the movie side. (Monkey Man was originally set up at Netflix, but the filmmakers were eager to secure a traditional theatrical release). A revenge-thriller set in India, Patel’s critically acclaimed film is inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, as well as by the John Wick series.
- 4/3/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- 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
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is poised to stomp all over the box office competition… again.
After its better-than-expected debut, Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment’s monster tentpole has generated $95 million domestically and $210 worldwide to date. Now, “Godzilla x Kong” looks to add $32 million to $36 million in its second weekend of release. Those ticket sales, down roughly 55% from its opening, will easily be enough to lead over two newcomers, director Dev Patel’s action-thriller “Monkey Man” and Disney and 20th Century’s supernatural prequel “The First Omen.”
“Monkey Man” is targeting $12 million to start, while “The First Omen” is projected to pull ahead with $14 million to $15 million. Holdovers, including “Kung Fu Panda 4,” “Dune: Part Two” and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” will otherwise round out box office charts.
“Monkey Man” was initially destined for Netflix and not the big screen. But Universal Pictures landed rights after Jordan Peele, whose production...
After its better-than-expected debut, Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment’s monster tentpole has generated $95 million domestically and $210 worldwide to date. Now, “Godzilla x Kong” looks to add $32 million to $36 million in its second weekend of release. Those ticket sales, down roughly 55% from its opening, will easily be enough to lead over two newcomers, director Dev Patel’s action-thriller “Monkey Man” and Disney and 20th Century’s supernatural prequel “The First Omen.”
“Monkey Man” is targeting $12 million to start, while “The First Omen” is projected to pull ahead with $14 million to $15 million. Holdovers, including “Kung Fu Panda 4,” “Dune: Part Two” and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” will otherwise round out box office charts.
“Monkey Man” was initially destined for Netflix and not the big screen. But Universal Pictures landed rights after Jordan Peele, whose production...
- 4/3/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
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