Movie Review – The First Omen

Went into this blind, having not watched a trailer or knowing much about it. An intentional move that added to my enjoyment of it.

An American woman, once an orphan, arrives in Rome so she can become a nun. Her friend, and Catholic Bishop, sets her up at an orphanage where she discovers a teenage girl in seclusion. When she tries to help the girl, she enters a world of religious manipulation and evil.

This film hits hard. It doesn’t hold back. It’s a brutal, menacing masterpiece of a prequel. So intriguing in its premise that it’s hard to look away, especially if you grew up watching the original as a kid.

Acting here is stellar. Bill Nighy as the bishop is perfect casting. Nell Tiger Free in the lead role is so engrossing as an actress that you can’t stop watching. Even Charles Dance’s limited appearance is unforgettable.

The body horror, the screams of women during childbirth, and the general atmosphere is shocking. Sinister. Bloody. Abundant.

Director Arkasha Stevenson has made a brutal, naked portrait of the dark side of religious beliefs. Pair this one with Immaculate and have yourself a double feature at the theater. See it on the big screen. It’s deserves that for the first viewing.

Four and a half out of five stars.