The First Omen: Film Review
There have been several instances in cinema history where two very similar films have been released around the same time. That’s happened again now with Immaculate and The First Omen.
This prequel is set in Rome in 1971, five years before 1976’s The Omen, and follows American trainee nun Margaret (Nell Tiger Free). She works at an orphanage while preparing to “take the veil” and becomes drawn to an odd young girl named Carlita (Nicole Sorace). Ostracised priest Father Brennan (Ralph Ineson) claims Carlita is destined to birth the Antichrist but Margaret refuses to believe his claims.
The First Omen doesn’t do itself any favours coming out so closely behind Immaculate. It’s so easy to compare them as they both revolve around an American nun moving to Rome and getting caught up in a sinister plot. They don’t follow the exact same storyline but there are also more parallels that I won’t share due to spoilers. Immaculate isn’t perfect but it is far superior to The First Omen.
Anyway, let’s cast Immaculate aside and look at The First Omen on its own. This film is slow and takes a while to get going. There are a few helpings of creepiness, ominous vibes and horrifying moments (one childbirth image will haunt me forever) but it only really starts cooking with gas after the big revelation, which I won’t call a twist because it was extremely obvious. After that point, the movie levels up and becomes very exciting. I was on the edge of my seat during the final act, which tees up the beginning of The Omen very nicely.
Margaret is a passive and reactive character for the majority of the film. Free did well with it but she really got her chance to shine with the final act. She was so good! However, while I love Bill Nighy, I wasn’t convinced by him as Cardinal Lawrence – he just didn’t feel like the right fit. Playing against type usually works but it didn’t for me in this case. Father Brennan is the connective character between the movies and I didn’t really buy Ineson as a younger version of Patrick Troughton, although he did a fine job (whatever his accent was doing).
The First Omen, the sixth instalment in The Omen franchise, could have been shorter and quicker but your patience is rewarded in the end with that sensational finale.
In cinemas from Friday 5th April and on Disney+ from Thursday 30th May