The Omen Films

The Omen was the first in a series of films based on the bestselling David Seltzer horror novel of the same name. The original installment, directed by Richard Donner, was remade in 2006.

The film series centers around Damien Thorn (Harvey Stephens), a child raised by wealthy American ambassador Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck), and his wife, Katherine (Lee Remick). Damien is not their real child, although Katherine is not aware of this; Robert switched Katherine's stillborn child with Damien years before. However, neither Robert nor Katherine are aware that Damien is not just any child—he is the offspring of Satan and destined, by a 666 mark on his scalp, to become the Antichrist. The Thorns first suspect something is unusual about their son when several people surrounding him, including his first nanny, and then a priest, die tragically and gruesomely.

The film was one of several highly popular demonic films released in the 1970s, along with Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist. The Omen is remembered as one of the more terrifying horror films, mainly because of its references to Biblical apocalyptic prophecy, its strong cast, and the dawning realization on the part of Robert Thorn that he must kill his own child to save the world.