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“The Omen” had a lot to live up to following similar films “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Exorcist.” It stepped out on its own as if it was the only demon-child film ever made.

With an almost-soap opera premise, politician Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) is faced with a dilemma when his wife Katherine (Lee Remick) gives birth to a still-born child. A cleric has offered him a newborn orphan in his dead child’s place. Robert decides to take the baby and not tell his wife it’s not really their own. And so Damien is “born.” Little did Robert know, he was now the father of the son of the devil.

Damien is a quiet kid. Sometimes weird. But it’s not until his 6th birthday when we finally see what Damien is. That’s the day a series of deaths begin surrounding him.

“The Omen” is a great film all around. The writing is smart. The acting is even smarter. The cinematography is top-notch. Oh, and the music … perfectly chilling. And there’s the gore. Said to be the first mainstream movie to truly present such gore, it still withstands today. I miss the way movies were made in the ’70s.

“The Omen” 1976

Memorable Quote: “Wrong? What could be wrong with our child, Robert? We’re the beautiful people, aren’t we?”

Best Scene: Damien’s nanny gives him her life for this sixth birthday. It’s one of the creepiest moments in film. There isn’t an online clip, but there’s one for the other great scene, which includes Hollywood’s first beheading. See clip below

Did You Know? Harvey Stephens, the original Damien also is in the 2006 remake. He is one of the reporters at the embassy

See the rest of the 31 Great Horror Movies.

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