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Finally a horror movie that doesn't rely on jumpscares every 10 seconds.

The story is of Margret who goes to an orphanage run by nuns in Italy in the 70s. She is on the road to getting her veil when we discover she was also brought up in one of those homes and was plagued by visions which she was thought that they were her imagination. When a girl starts having similar experiences she grows close to her trying to uncover the route of them. As people are losing faith in God around the world the church pose a plot to gain back their faith, going to extreme lengths, sinister lengths.

The movie is solid, it focuses on telling a story in the horror genre with about 3 jumpscares and a major lean on visual horror scenes.

The acting is good, there also seems to be a good sense of dread in the entire movie as the characters are on edge the whole time. The settings are good and the music is good. The story is a little predictable as I caught on quite quick the "twist"

Overall an enjoyable time and I hope more of these come out as I like them not filled with Jumpscares as that gets so boring, 7.5/10.

Between The First Omen and the Sydney Sweeney vehicle Immaculate, 2024 is the lucky year for anyone who happens to really dig neo-nunsploitation horror films that partly function as a commentary on anti-choice dystopia and religious subjugation. Aficionados of all things spooky are inclined to pit the two films against each other as "rivaling pictures", à la Deep Impact vs. Armageddon (in 1998) or Drive-Away Dolls vs. Love Lies Bleeding (also this year), but I think it's better to view occasions like this as a double treat.

I will say this, though: Despite my adoration of Sweeney's performance (mainly near the film's finale), I hold that The First Omen is the superior movie, not only because it leans harder into both the nunsploitation campiness and the psychological Rosemary's Baby-esque side, but because it is more consistently disturbing -- beautifully so. I also think the themes are delivered with more tact and confidence but it's really no surprise that both films are being celebrated as "necessary" post-Roe v. Wade masterworks (though Immaculate deserves extra cred for upsetting more Christian conservatives, namely in how it "took" Sweeney from them).

The First Omen, if you hadn't figured, is a prequel to Richard Donner's Omen from 1976. I haven't seen that movie myself and as sacrilege as this confession may sound, I actively chose to see this movie first to see if it works by itself and makes sense to an outsider. And apart from a vaguely "Member Berry"-ish namedrop at the end (and whatever other references I surely missed), I believe The First Omen stands more than fine on its own.

From the moment it starts, its cinematography, staging, and editing are worthy of the classics -- encapsulating the beauty of '70s cinema in just a few minutes, to paraphrase a commenter -- and this is only the beginning of the film's thoughtful homages. To be clear, these aren't just facile invocations; they all work. There is a scene later that recalls the iconic breakdown sequence from Andrzej Zulawski's Possession (1981), but it's "expanded" upon in ways I shan't unveil here.

Right after that prologue -- that shot of stain-glass window shattering in slow-motion -- the film takes on an ominous energy that never lets up, even during ostensible moments of levity. There are several other striking images and inspired bits of cinematography throughout the film, like when the main character awakens from a drunken stupor in a medium closeup shot that shows her hair laid out like a spider's web holding her head in place. Note that the shot immediately preceding it is of a spider. There are, fittingly, omens everywhere.

The acting is also pretty spectacular. Nell Tiger Free, playing an American Catholic woman sent to Rome to be confirmed as a nun, is destined for the Scream Queen Hall of Fame and Ralph Ineson's booming voice adds weight and urgency to his fearful warnings of what the Church is up to.

Mark Korven's music is no less brilliant. It, too, makes us feel as though we are truly watching a movie from the '70s, albeit with more advanced special effects that, without giving too much away, caused the film to nearly get slapped with an NC-17 rating.

What holds the movie back a little bit is that it has a few weak supporting performances and, more importantly, it fails to resist jump scares -- which I concede can work fine and leave an impact, but The First Omen has a few of the fakeout variety. Don't let this stop you, however. This is a superbly crafted, well-acted, well-lit (hallelujah), and thoroughly ghastly tale that works on one level as a statement on choice (as well as the abuses within the Catholic Church) and another as a nasty yet artful horror movie.

Unsettling is the perfect word to describe The First Omen. This prequel to the 1971 classic maintains the atmosphere and dread of the original while adding a few of its own twists and turns to the lore for better or worse.

Exploring the dark forces behind Damien's birth is one of the best parts of the First Omen. The tension that builds up to the final act is equally as compelling. Thankfully there were only a few cheap jump scares with the film opting for more disturbing imagery. There were many scenes where you knew something was going to happen but all you could do was either watch it play out or turn away. If you do decide to stick with it you will find the graphic moments satisfyingly disturbing. The First Omen does not disappoint when it comes to fully utilizing its R-rating.

One of the worst aspects of the film is the narrative. Hauntings kind of just happen for no particular reasons and some of the changes to the lore in The Omen don't quite jive not just with the original but within the context of The First Omen itself. All of the actors did an amazing job in their respective roles but a majority of the supporting characters needed more development. Nell Tiger Free's Margaret stood out as the leading protagonist while her friend and ally priest left me wanting to know more about them.

For me, the pros outweigh the cons but the lacking story is worth considering if you are on the fence about seeing The First Omen in theaters.

I found "The First Omen" a decent horror flick. It's definitely a slow burn, so be prepared for building suspense rather than constant jump scares. The chilling atmosphere, unsettling moments, and creepy background score really worked for me.

While the pace might be too slow for some, I appreciated the way the film gradually builds tension. It has genuine scares, fueled more by atmosphere than cheap tricks. If you enjoy a classic, atmospheric horror experience, you might like this one.

Don't go in expecting a fast-paced thrill ride. Instead, be prepared for a film that aims to unnerve you. It won't blow you away with originality, but for fans of old-school horror, "The First Omen" offers some solid chills.

In a world of prequels and frenchise universes this movie has been one I didn't wait for or did expect.

Especially after the 2006 Omen remake.

The story is not full of surprises. We always heard of Damian's birth, his real mother, the jackal. Now asome creative people wrote the story and brought it to life.

What to say? It's what you expect in the year 2024. But wait. It's more. Or better said: less!

It's a modern flick but in the style of the 70s. No jump scares. Just a good horror stories told in a decent way. The first death scene was something I haven't seen in a long time. An unexpected kind of killing and dying. But even more impressive. Not the usual "He's dead Jim" bloody jump scare death. More a "what the heck!? Really?" scene which keeps you mouth wide open.

And the movie continues this style of story telling and unexpected kills and how the people die. All in time without rush.

All in all this movie is doing things right other modern franchises are missing. A good story, people with patience and creativity who gave us something familiar from the past in times we only rush threw life.

Easily one of the best horror prequels. The original Omen is an all time classic, and this is a great follow up. The film revels in mashing up genres: body horror and gothic church horror. Well paced with a good cinematic moment.

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.

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.

How can a prequel of a classic directed by a first timer (at least when it comes to feature films) be this good???

The First Omen is a must watch for it's cinematography alone. Adding Nell Tiger Free as the incredible lead, eery body horror, spectacular sets and costumes and the feeling of 70s cinema.

It might be a tid bit too long and the whole Dan Brown-esque scavenger hunt wasn't fully working, but damn is it fun and just beautiful to watch.

Arkasha Stevenson did the original Omen justice.

I have to compare it to Immaculate since it's basically the same story, but so much better! Go watch this instead, trust me.

The First Omen is literally the Rogue One of horror movies. Late stage horror prequels are usually cheap cash grabs which is what makes this one such a pleasant surprise. It's clearly crafted with vision and artistry as it operates within an established franchise whilst being so much nastier than mainstream horror usually gets to be.

Nell Tiger Free is phenomenal, as the film progresses it demands more and she is always able to provide it. A late stage sequence has her going to a very visceral place and it leaves you speechless. Ralph Ineson gives Father Brennan a lot more humanity than he originally had and is great at establishing the stakes.

Arkasha Stevenson makes such a confident debut, skillfully choosing to harken back to the original not just with callbacks and musical cues but by imbuing this film with the same rich texture and slow burning pace of 70s cinema. She also crafts an atmosphere so potent that the few jump scares really land and the horrific imagery won't be forgotten anytime soon.

I went into this movie aware that it was a 'slow burn'. This is fine with me and I greatly enjoyed movies such as VVitch, The Invitation, The House of the Devil etc. However, a slow burn movie done well maintains the suspense / dread throughout to keep you invested. In this movie, scenes are just stretched out to twice as long as they need to be and (in my case at least) boredom set in. When I needed a bathroom break I even ended up browsing the boards for upcoming movies rather than return to my seat straight away - I have never done that before in a cinema. To top it off there are continuity issues between this movie and the original this is the prequel to, which irritates as the original is such a classic. Not scary, and not worthy of the Omen name.

"The First Omen" is a total game-changer, no cap. This prequel brings a fresh twist to the classic horror franchise, diving deep into the origin story of the Antichrist. The film's cinematography is on point, creating a chilling atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The actors delivered their lines with such finesse, making the characters feel real and relatable.

Director Arkasha Stevenson did an excellent job weaving suspense and horror together, crafting a storyline that's both intriguing and terrifying. The plot twists are unexpected and cleverly executed, leaving the audience guessing till the end.

For horror fans, "The First Omen" is a must-watch. It's got everything you need - suspense, drama, and a touch of nostalgia for the original series. Just make sure to keep the lights on when you watch it!

Im a huge fan of horrors, and love the original couple of Omen films. For me they are timeless classics. They build suspense, draw you in and you just feel the evil coming from the character. This was just so completely dull. Halfway through the film i find myself checking the runtime to see if we are nearly done yet. To be fair to the film the acting was pretty good and some of the effects used were very good. Perfomances from the mighty Bill Nighy for example are rarely going to be poor, but even his skill as an actor couldnt save the dullness of this movie. Im not quite sure if the reviewers offering 7 to 9 out of ten even saw the same movie? This should have been another classic but unforunately it just fell on its face quite flatly.

Following on the heels of the film "Immaculate" about nuns giving birth to the satanic in a Catholic cult, comes the First Omen about nuns giving birth to the satanic in a Catholic cult!

However the latter is a far better production that relies less on jump scares and more on slow burn horror. Warnings of "viscera" were overrated as it only graphically appeared once. There was instead a clever analysis of the natural horror of the ordeal of childbirth.

The treatment of the Catholic Church was also more balanced as it clarified that most Catholics were spiritual people, and not satanic cultists.

There was even a hidden message that sin, even one night out, was not good for nuns!

Anomalies existed. Why Satan didn't like fire for example was inconsistent with the entire history of Catholicism. Also the ending was very contrived to ensure a sequel could be resurrected if needed.

The setting was an orphanage for girls run by nuns so there was an interesting archetypal ambience about motherhood, which worked very well for the film. Every version of the feminine was on hand with a cunning foxy Cardinal Bill Nighy in the henhouse, so to speak.

It was this strange analysis of everything female, and I mean everything, that was exceptional.

First off.. The movie was not horrible. It had its moments where my jaw was dropped. And mind you it is a 2-hour long movie. So those moments felt heavy

Nell Tiger Free was marvelous in many moments, however I feel as thought she sometimes missed the Q. But there were moments I could not take my eye off of her. In fact, please if they ever remake Possession (1981), cast her.

As much as I love these movies separately, they do not belong in the same movie(toward the end, it felt like I was more-so watching Possession rather then anything related to The Omen)

Ishtar Currie Wilson!!!!!! I NEED TO SEE YOU IN MORE HOROR IMMEDIATELY. YOU WERE CRAZY AND LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT!!!! WHICH IS WHY I WANTED MORE OF ANGELICAS STORY!

I feel it would have worked better for a movie like a remake, of Possession. Sorry!

As I said it has its moments. Visual effects were outrageously delightful and that it itself is worth giving it a go. A little bit better script, shorter run time and support would have made it a solid Omen.

Nowadays, Most of horror flicks has a major and common problem: either they rely entirely on jump scares or they blow up the gist of the story in the first hour. The latest sequel of a year old franchise significantly washed out these stigmas and offers new life to its predecessors.

From the outset, The first Omen engulfs the viewer in a suspenseful atmosphere that persists until the very end. The story revolves around Margaret Daino(Nell Tiger Free), an American nun, who arrives in Italy to take religious vows. As the plot unfolds, a series of piques her curiosity about her surrounding and the question and the mysterious figure larking in the shadows. To save carlita(a special child within the church) and unravel mysteries she fine herself in grave danger upon herself with catastrophic consequences.

Despite the time period or country, lighting and sound are crucial elements in a horror film. The skillful use of instruments creates a noir gothic atmosphere. The camera movements and lighting give the film a unique identity, where each frame deserves individual appreciation. Nell Tiger free holds everything of it, she is the definitive performer here. Although she might seem uncertain in the initial scenes, she quickly finds her footing. Adapting the previous tale of a film which is widely considered a cult and milestone in horror genre, always bring an extra pressure on director's shoulder. Arakasha Stevenson, the director not only handles this task with expertise but also brings new nuances and depth to the story. Ultimately, she has created a compelling and thought-provoking film.

While there are a few minor drawbacks, the film does test the viewer's patience in the first hour. In addition to the central character, the supporting characters feel one-dimensional and underdeveloped. The overall context is solid, but a few subplots could have made it even more engaging.

Finally it's suffice to say that The First Omen is a captivating journey of survival and self-discovery, infused with chilling horror.

Kudos to the filmmakers for having the guts to do a straight up prequel to such a classic horror film. Rather than another re-boot, the events in The First Omen take place directly before the classic film.

The film is delightfully creepy and weird, including a sequence that legitimately gave me goosebumps. Fantastic cinematography and atmosphere actually makes the film feel like it could've come out in 1971.

Not only does it give context to the original but also answered some lingering questions I had after watching the original. A prequel that is not only worthy, but actually feels necessary.

The First Omen: Though similar in plot to Immaculate at a superficial level, this film sticks to the supernatural in the attempts to create the Antichrist. In the prologue an aged Father Harris (Charles Dance) is tracked down by Father Brennan (Ralph Ineson), Harris relates a garbled tale about a baby created through a woman mating with the Devil. The progeny is destined to be the mother of the Antichrist. Shortly afterwards Father Harris is showered by stained glass and a piece of scaffolding takes a chunk out of his head, obviously just happenstance. Rome, 1971, Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) arrives from the US to take her vows at a school/orphanage, herself an orphan, she was raised by the Roman Catholic Church. She is met by Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy) who a decade before had counselled her when she was having troubles. They travel to the Convent to the background of Trade Union and Student protests; the Cardinal reflects on how the RCC is also losing the support of young people. These disturbances continue in the background over the radio until Margaret is caught up in a riot during a pivotal scene,

The Convent seems to be a happy place, the children are treated well, they have parties, nuns bounce on trampolines, even the elder sisters smoke and crack jokes. However Margaret finds that one child Carlita (Nicole Sorace) is often kept in a room, tied to a bed even. Carlita acts up, is violent, draws strange pictures, Margaret realises that Carlita is acting like she did years ago, so she bonds with her. Similar to Immaculate there is a naughty novitiate, Luz (Maria Caballero) she browbeats Carlita into going dancing and drinking, after all one must live before leaving secular life. Things take an odd turn at the orphanage, Carlita has terrifying visions, a strange young nun, Angelica connects with both Margarey and Carlita. Father Brennan reappears and tries to convince Margaret that a conspiracy is at play to create the Antichrist. The plot now takes an interesting turn which it would be a spoiler to reveal.

The First Omen is a largely satisfying film in its own right and promises to take the franchise off at an angle to the previous films. There are scenes of graphic horror, not least in the birth scenes where elements of body horror are introduced along with Margaret's visions of the risen dead. Some good jump scares but the pacing of the film takes away from the effect of a couple of these. A tightening up of the convent scenes with additional exposition of Margaret's backstory might have improved the flow of the narrative. Nell Tiger Free's part demands a lot and she is equal to it as her character develops. Maria Caballero is wonderful in her nunsploitation role in the nightclub scenes and in her dress sense, this sequence and her later taking of vows introduces a touch of Dario Argento. Nicole Sorace gives a fine performance as the disturbed and conflicted young girl.. Bill Nighy gives further support as the enigmatic and pragmatic Cardinal. Of course The First Omen introduces a few characters who featured in the 1976 film The Omen and even pays homage to several of its gory death scenes (improving on at least one of those). Directed by Arkasha Stevenson, who co-wrote the screenplay with Tim Smith and Keith Thomas from a story by Ben Jacoby. 8/10.