Recently, nuns have been like the red-shirted disposable crew-members of horror movies, especially in Immaculate, which wasn’t otherwise special in any way. A new novitiate is duly in for very similar treatment in this film. In fact, it could almost be considered a remake, even though it only opened in theaters a few weeks later, but [badly] retconned into the Omen franchise. One thing is for certain, someone must be getting pregnant eventually in Arkasha Stevenson’s prequel, The First Omen, which releases today on DVD and BluRay.
Ironically, the prologue serves up the film’s scariest scene, featuring a slightly younger Father Brennan (played by Patrick Troughton, the second Doctor [Who] in the original film). Alas, it is mostly downhill from there. Eerily like Sydney Sweeney in Immaculate, naïve prospective “Sister” Margaret has been lured to an ominous Italian convent-orphanage by Cardinal Lawrence, her old trusted priest, who now is part of a shadowy cabal within the Church.
Again, she befriends a comparatively free-spirited fellow novitiate, Luz, in whom Margaret confides her concerns, including the apparent abuse of Carlita, an orphan who suffers from disturbing visions. Sound familiar yet? However, First Omen has Father Brennan to warn Margaret there are sinister things afoot at the convent, if she hadn’t noticed yet.
By far, the best thing going for First Omen is the perfectly cast Ralph Ineson as Father Brennan. He definitely has the right sort of grizzled Peter Cushing-esque intensity for Antichrist-busting priest.
However, the film waters down Fr. Brennan’s backstory, ditching his past sexual transgressions, which allowed the Satanic faction temporarily corrupt him. Stevenson and co-screenwriters Tim Smith and Keith Thomas go further, somewhat de-Satanizing the secret Devil-worshiping cabal, turning them into bizarre uber-Catholic fanatics seeking to hasten the Antichrist’s arrival to “scare” people back to the Church. Right, what could go wrong with that plan?
Maria Caballero also adds some desperately needed energy as soon-to-be Sister Luz. However, Nell Tiger Free underwhelms as Margaret and Bill Nighy looks bored and generally resentful he had to accept the role of Cardinal Lawrence. Weirdly, two of the most memorable appearances are those of Charles Dance, has a brief part in the prologue and Gregory Peck, who is seen fleetingly, but cleverly in a photo of the current American ambassador, Robert Thorn.
For what its worth, the set and costume design work of First Omen is far superior to that of Immaculate. The ideologically-charged early 1970s setting definitely works in this film’s favor. Sadly, it requires a coin toss to determine which film has a more disappointing screenplay. Neither movie really understands the appeal of religiously-themed demonic horror. Instead, check out The Nun II, which is terrific. Not recommended, unless you’re renting it at the Bend, OR Blockbuster, The First Omen releases today (7/30) on DVD.