Horror sequels, prequels, spin-offs, and remakes are ubiquitous things, and I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone got around to making an “Omen” prequel. Of course, this begs the question: what exactly is the point of such a movie? The original “Omen” movie pretty much gave us all the backstory we needed regarding Damien. But hey, what do I know? I’m not a studio exec greenlighting this sort of thing while pulling in obscene amounts of money.
Anyway, “The First Omen” isn’t the first franchise entry in the series. After “The Omen” became a big hit it resulted in multiple sequels — “Damien: Omen II,” which is over-the-top with its violence and kind of fun, “Omen III: The Final Conflict,” where Sam Neill played the adult Damien, and “Omen IV: The Awakening,” which I confess I never bothered to see. There was also a remake in 2006. Now here comes “The First Omen.”
Here’s the official 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.
The flick stars Nell Tiger Free (“Servant”), Tawfeek Barhom (“Mary Magdalene”), Sonia Braga (“Kiss of the Spider Woman”), Ralph Ineson (“The Northman”), and Bill Nighy (“Living”). Arkasha Stevenson directs, with a story by Ben Jacoby (“Bleed”) and a screenplay by Tim Smith & Arkasha Stevenson and Keith Thomas (“Firestarter”). Look for “The First Omen” in theaters on April 5, 2024.