Taglines: Create something to fear.
The First Omen movie storyline. In this prequel directed by Arkasha Stevenson, 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 First Omen is an American supernatural horror film directed by Arkasha Stevenson, and written by Stevenson, Tim Smith and Keith Thomas, from a story by Ben Jacoby. Serving as a prequel to The Omen (1976), the film follows an American woman sent to work at a church in Rome but uncovers a sinister conspiracy to bring about the birth of an Antichrist. It stars Nell Tiger Free, Tawfeek Barhom, Sônia Braga, Ralph Ineson, and Bill Nighy. The film was theatrically released by 20th Century Studios on April 5, 2024.
A specific shot in the birthing sequence resulted in the Motion Picture Association registering the film with an NC-17 rating classification. Producer Keith Levine said, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”.
David S. Goyer commented that, “The movie, by its nature, deals with female body horror, and I do think there’s a double standard. That was really interesting when we were negotiating with the ratings board. I think there is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”.
Film Review for The First Omen
Father Brennan presses Father Harris about an occult conspiracy; the shaken Harris gives Brennan a photograph of a baby with the name “Scianna” inscribed. Harris is killed when a falling pipe splits his head open.
In Rome, 1971, amid left-wing protests, American novitiate Margaret Daino arrives at the Vizzardeli Orphanage. She meets with Cardinal Lawrence, Father Gabriel, Abess Sister Silva, nun Anjelica, and her roommate and fellow novitiate Luz. Luz invites Margaret to a disco, where they meet two men. Luz dances with one of the men while Margaret dances with the other man named Paolo before blacking out. She awakens the next day with no memory of what happened.
Margaret bonds with the mistreated orphan Carlita, who is plagued by bad visions. Father Brennan warns her about Carlita, saying “evil things” will happen around her. Margaret spots Carlita showing Anjelica a drawing of a pregnant woman being restrained; moments later, Anjelica self-immolates and hangs herself.
Brennan explains that radicals within the church, desperate to regain power against the rise of secularism, seek to bring about the Antichrist to create fear and drive people back to the church, with Carlita intended to be his mother. During a field trip, a riot breaks out and Margaret experiences demonic hallucinations. Sister Silva postpones Margaret’s vows and orders her to distance herself from Carlita. She spots Paolo; horrified, he tells her to “look for the mark” before an oncoming truck fatally impales him.
Margaret sneaks into Sister Silva’s office. She uncovers a hidden, underground chamber and a series of subject files, all labeled “Scianna”. They contain photos of mostly dysmorphic babies with a birthmark in the shape of three sixes, with Carlita as seemingly the only survivor. Margaret is intercepted and spots the mark on Carlita’s palate before being imprisoned.
Father Gabriel frees Margaret; as they examine the files, they discover that another baby had survived. Margaret locates the mark on her own scalp and suddenly remembers that she was forcefully impregnated in a satanic ritual the night she blacked out at the disco. The Devil will need to mate with his own spawn in order to conceive the Antichrist, and Margaret had been brought to Rome as Carlita is too young. The group drives off to have the pregnancy aborted, but another car crashes into theirs on the way and Margaret’s womb suddenly fills.
The First Omen (2024)
Directed by: Arkasha Stevenson
Starring: Nell Tiger Free, Sônia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy, Nicole Sorace, Charles Dance, Mia McGovern Zaini, Andrea Arcangeli, Anton Alexander, Tawfeek Barhom, Alessia Bonacci, Maria Caballero
Screenplay by: Tim Smith, Arkasha Stevenson, Keith Thomas
Cinematography by: Aaron Morton
Film Editing by: Amy E. Duddleston
Costume Design by: Paco Delgado
Set Decoration by: Maria Luigia Battani
Art Direction by: Marco Cardilli, Tiziana Liberotti, Andrea Migliaccio
MPAA Rating: R for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity.
Distributed by: 20th Century Studios
Release Date: April 5, 2024
The First Omen, The First Omen 2024, Nell Tiger Free, Sônia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy, Nicole Sorace, Charles Dance, Mia McGovern Zaini, Andrea Arcangeli, Anton Alexander, Tawfeek Barhom, Alessia Bonacci, Maria Caballero
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