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A review by kba76
The Omen by David Seltzer
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Omen is one of those stories that I feel I know without having ever read the book or seen the movie. A classic horror focusing on the coming of the AntiChrist and the chaos wreaked on a family chosen to raise the child.
Jeremy and Katherine Thorn are a couple used to getting what they want. Professionally destined for power and socially respected but they have been unable to have a child. Each time Katherine fails to carry a child to term she seems a little more unhinged. So it comes as little surprise that her husband accepts the offer of raising a living child born at the same time as their child dies.
Initially things are happy. The only sign of something being wrong is when Damien is terrified at the prospect of attending church. It is only on his fourth birthday when his beloved nanny hangs herself that we - and the parents - start to suspect things are not right.
From this point on we’re immersed in gory horror, strangely unsettling visions and warnings of impending doom. The number of incidents rise and soon it becomes impossible to ignore the fact that something awful has been unleashed on the world.
The whole thing seemed exaggerated in style and very much of its time. There were moments that were genuinely creepy but I think the closing scene - and all it implied - was not one I was meant to find as amusing as I did. If only more had been done earlier to turn people to Christianity! I’m still unsure what the purpose of this was.
Jeremy and Katherine Thorn are a couple used to getting what they want. Professionally destined for power and socially respected but they have been unable to have a child. Each time Katherine fails to carry a child to term she seems a little more unhinged. So it comes as little surprise that her husband accepts the offer of raising a living child born at the same time as their child dies.
Initially things are happy. The only sign of something being wrong is when Damien is terrified at the prospect of attending church. It is only on his fourth birthday when his beloved nanny hangs herself that we - and the parents - start to suspect things are not right.
From this point on we’re immersed in gory horror, strangely unsettling visions and warnings of impending doom. The number of incidents rise and soon it becomes impossible to ignore the fact that something awful has been unleashed on the world.
The whole thing seemed exaggerated in style and very much of its time. There were moments that were genuinely creepy but I think the closing scene - and all it implied - was not one I was meant to find as amusing as I did. If only more had been done earlier to turn people to Christianity! I’m still unsure what the purpose of this was.