Like many children of the 80s, I have a soft spot for the 1985 adventure epic Ladyhawke. It’s directed by the great Richard Donner, with it coming just before The Goonies and Lethal Weapon, but after his time with the Superman franchise. Lavishly produced, it wasn’t a hit in 1985 despite having a top-notch cast that included the late Rutger Hauer (in a rare heroic role), Michelle Pfeiffer, and Matthew Broderick. While some might say the latter was rather improbably cast as an Italian thief in the Middle Ages, that’s not actually the weirdest thing about the movie.
Donner has a reputation for always choosing superb composers for his films. Just think about how iconic Michael Kamen and Eric Clapton’s work is for Lethal Weapon, John Williams’s Superman theme, Jerry Goldsmith’s work on The Omen, and Dave Grusin’s score for The Goonies. Yet, one score...
Donner has a reputation for always choosing superb composers for his films. Just think about how iconic Michael Kamen and Eric Clapton’s work is for Lethal Weapon, John Williams’s Superman theme, Jerry Goldsmith’s work on The Omen, and Dave Grusin’s score for The Goonies. Yet, one score...
- 5/16/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Transitioning the naturalistic comic sensibilities that made Better Things a success, Pamela Adlon’s feature debut Babes manages to co-opt the rhythms of a romantic comedy to explore the relationship between two best friends at opposite points of their lives.
Eden and Dawn (Michelle Buteau) have been friends for 27 years. Married with one child and another on the way, Dawn seemingly has her life together, whereas Eden runs a yoga studio out of her apartment and doesn’t imagine settling down anytime soon. After an opening that sees Dawn go into labor during a ritual Thanksgiving-morning movie, Eden has a meet-cute with charismatic actor Claude (Stephan James). One midnight subway ride and sexual encounter later, Eden finds herself pregnant and staring down raising a baby alone. With her pregnancy she begins to increasingly lean on Dawn, who struggles with her husband Marty (Hasan Minhaj) to raise two children and balance a career.
Eden and Dawn (Michelle Buteau) have been friends for 27 years. Married with one child and another on the way, Dawn seemingly has her life together, whereas Eden runs a yoga studio out of her apartment and doesn’t imagine settling down anytime soon. After an opening that sees Dawn go into labor during a ritual Thanksgiving-morning movie, Eden has a meet-cute with charismatic actor Claude (Stephan James). One midnight subway ride and sexual encounter later, Eden finds herself pregnant and staring down raising a baby alone. With her pregnancy she begins to increasingly lean on Dawn, who struggles with her husband Marty (Hasan Minhaj) to raise two children and balance a career.
- 5/15/2024
- by Christian Gallichio
- The Film Stage
‘Grips, twists, jostles and pokes… queasy hints of Blair Witch, Paranormal Activity, Kill List and Peep Show… punchy, funny, scary… a fantastically unnerving location’
★★★★
The Guardian
‘A smart, funny and genuinely spooky movie’
The Times
‘The script is witty, the cast are simply terrific… a spiky, intelligent little throat-grabber’
Time Out
Say your prayers as writer-director Elliot Goldner’s chiller The Borderlands is set to strike fear into your very soul, as this acclaimed British horror classic comes to Limited Edition Blu-ray from Second Sight Films. The brand-new set comes complete with a host of fascinating special features, it is also available in a Standard Edition Blu-ray.
When frequent strange happenings are reported at a thirteenth century church in rural Devon, a small team of Vatican investigators are sent in to try and demystify the unusual goings on… But what they discover is more disturbing than they could ever imagine.
★★★★
The Guardian
‘A smart, funny and genuinely spooky movie’
The Times
‘The script is witty, the cast are simply terrific… a spiky, intelligent little throat-grabber’
Time Out
Say your prayers as writer-director Elliot Goldner’s chiller The Borderlands is set to strike fear into your very soul, as this acclaimed British horror classic comes to Limited Edition Blu-ray from Second Sight Films. The brand-new set comes complete with a host of fascinating special features, it is also available in a Standard Edition Blu-ray.
When frequent strange happenings are reported at a thirteenth century church in rural Devon, a small team of Vatican investigators are sent in to try and demystify the unusual goings on… But what they discover is more disturbing than they could ever imagine.
- 5/14/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Photo: Todd Williamson
An all-new action-adventure spectacle, 20th Century Studios’ “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is directed by Wes Ball and stars Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy. The film is written by Josh Friedman, based on characters created by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, and the producers are Wes Ball, Joe Hartwick, Jr., p.g.a., Rick Jaffa, p.g.a., Amanda Silver, p.g.a., Jason Reed, p.g.a., with Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping serving as executive producers.
Wes Ball breathes new life into the global epic franchise set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously, and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question...
An all-new action-adventure spectacle, 20th Century Studios’ “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is directed by Wes Ball and stars Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy. The film is written by Josh Friedman, based on characters created by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, and the producers are Wes Ball, Joe Hartwick, Jr., p.g.a., Rick Jaffa, p.g.a., Amanda Silver, p.g.a., Jason Reed, p.g.a., with Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping serving as executive producers.
Wes Ball breathes new life into the global epic franchise set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously, and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question...
- 5/14/2024
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Despite pretty good reviews (including ours), The First Omen underperformed dramatically at the box office this winter. It was meant to reignite The Omen franchise. Still, with a domestic total of just under $20 million, it seems unlikely it succeeded in this goal (although it made an additional $30 million overseas). Initially, The First Omen was intended to be released directly to streaming via Hulu before getting a theatrical bow, and now it’s finally making its way to the service. The movie is set to come out on Hulu on May 30th, only two days after its PVOD release on May 28th.
Notably, the film will be released on physical media, with a Blu-ray and DVD release set for July 30th. That’s a departure for Disney, who produced the film, as their horror breakout hit Barbarian has yet to come out on Blu-ray or DVD.
The First Omen served as...
Notably, the film will be released on physical media, with a Blu-ray and DVD release set for July 30th. That’s a departure for Disney, who produced the film, as their horror breakout hit Barbarian has yet to come out on Blu-ray or DVD.
The First Omen served as...
- 5/13/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
A good "Omen" prequel? Alright, which one of you jokers made a deal with the devil? Director Richard Donner's original 1976 horror classic has spawned no shortage of film sequels, plus a failed TV pilot, a sequel TV series, and a 2006 remake featuring an utterly bizarre screenwriting credit. However, director and co-writer Arkasha Stevenson's "The First Omen" is the first entry to be widely heralded as a worthy continuation. In his review for /Film, Witney Seibold described the picture as "thoughtfully menacing, uniquely stylish, deathfully intense, and utterly terrifying" before crowning it "the best horror movie of the year so far."
Sadly, early 2024 hasn't been kind to horror at the box office, and Stevenson's film was no exception. On the other hand, Disney had initially planned on punting the movie straight to Hulu before sending it to theaters, so "The First Omen" was never under pressure to become a huge hit.
Sadly, early 2024 hasn't been kind to horror at the box office, and Stevenson's film was no exception. On the other hand, Disney had initially planned on punting the movie straight to Hulu before sending it to theaters, so "The First Omen" was never under pressure to become a huge hit.
- 5/13/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
After scaring up $52 million at the worldwide box office, the much-better-than-you’d-expect prequel The First Omen is headed home, Bloody Disgusting has learned this morning.
20th Century Studios will release director Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen, a prequel to the original horror classic The Omen, on at-home Digital on May 28, 2024.
The film will also hit Hulu on May 30, followed by Blu-ray & DVD on July 30.
Bonus Features include:
‘The Mystery of Margaret’ ‘The Director’s Vision’ ‘Signs of the First Omen’
The First Omen is an exceptional expansion on a classic, earning rave reviews across the board and impressing all of us here at Bloody Disgusting. Meagan Navarro wrote in her review, “Thanks to the exquisite craftsmanship on display, beguiling Gothic horror, an impeccable cast, and an emotional journey that packs a wallop, The First Omen stands strong on its own.”
“Arkasha Stevenson doesn’t just helm a prequel worthy...
20th Century Studios will release director Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen, a prequel to the original horror classic The Omen, on at-home Digital on May 28, 2024.
The film will also hit Hulu on May 30, followed by Blu-ray & DVD on July 30.
Bonus Features include:
‘The Mystery of Margaret’ ‘The Director’s Vision’ ‘Signs of the First Omen’
The First Omen is an exceptional expansion on a classic, earning rave reviews across the board and impressing all of us here at Bloody Disgusting. Meagan Navarro wrote in her review, “Thanks to the exquisite craftsmanship on display, beguiling Gothic horror, an impeccable cast, and an emotional journey that packs a wallop, The First Omen stands strong on its own.”
“Arkasha Stevenson doesn’t just helm a prequel worthy...
- 5/13/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Game Loop.
Trace and I inadvertently bookended our April discussions of John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London (listen) and Ciarán Foy’s Eli (listen) with Jude Law films. At the start of the month, we tackled Matt Damon’s Italian grifter in The Talented Mr. Ripley (listen) and now we’re closing out April with David Cronenberg‘s eXistenZ (1999).
The unofficial sequel to Videodrome (listen) and precursor to Crimes of the Future, eXistenZ takes place in the world of virtual reality and simulation. Game goddess Allegra Gellar (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is forced to go on the run with PR nerd Ted Pikul (Jude Law) through the Canadian backwoods when ‘Realist’ terrorists declare open season on her life.
Featuring no shortage of strange encounters and oddball characters, including Willem Dafoe‘s queer-coded Gas and Canadian film royalty like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley, Allegra and Ted must travel between the...
Trace and I inadvertently bookended our April discussions of John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London (listen) and Ciarán Foy’s Eli (listen) with Jude Law films. At the start of the month, we tackled Matt Damon’s Italian grifter in The Talented Mr. Ripley (listen) and now we’re closing out April with David Cronenberg‘s eXistenZ (1999).
The unofficial sequel to Videodrome (listen) and precursor to Crimes of the Future, eXistenZ takes place in the world of virtual reality and simulation. Game goddess Allegra Gellar (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is forced to go on the run with PR nerd Ted Pikul (Jude Law) through the Canadian backwoods when ‘Realist’ terrorists declare open season on her life.
Featuring no shortage of strange encounters and oddball characters, including Willem Dafoe‘s queer-coded Gas and Canadian film royalty like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley, Allegra and Ted must travel between the...
- 4/29/2024
- by Joe Lipsett
- bloody-disgusting.com
Soon after the New Hollywood generation took over the entertainment industry, they started having children. And more than any filmmakers that came before—they were terrified. Rosemary’s Baby (1968), The Exorcist (1973), The Omen (1976), Eraserhead (1977), The Brood (1979), The Shining (1980), Possession (1981), and many others all deal, at least in part, with the fears of becoming or being a parent. What if my child turns out to be a monster? is corrupted by some evil force? or turns out to be the fucking Antichrist? What if I screw them up somehow, or can’t help them, or even go insane and try to kill them? Horror has always been at its best when exploring relatable fears through extreme circumstances. A prime example of this is Larry Cohen’s 1974 monster-baby movie It’s Alive, which explores the not only the rollercoaster of emotions that any parent experiences when confronted with the difficulties of raising a child,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
Russell CrowePhoto: Vertical
He’s been a Gladiator. He’s been a Nice Guy. He’s been a Pope’s Exorcist. Now get ready to see Russell Crowe as you’ve never seen him before. In The Exorcism, Russell Crowe plays an actor playing an exorcist. Well, at least that...
He’s been a Gladiator. He’s been a Nice Guy. He’s been a Pope’s Exorcist. Now get ready to see Russell Crowe as you’ve never seen him before. In The Exorcism, Russell Crowe plays an actor playing an exorcist. Well, at least that...
- 4/25/2024
- by Matt Schimkowitz
- avclub.com
The Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox is home to a variety of unique horror content, from originals and exclusives to cult classics and documentaries. With such a rapidly-growing library, there are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Here are five recommendations you can stream on Screambox right now.
Norway
At the Abigail premiere, Dan Stevens listed Norway among his four favorite vampire movies. “I just saw a great movie recently that I’d never heard of,” he told Letterboxd. “A Greek film called Norway, about a vampire who basically exists in the underground disco scene in ’80s Athens, and he can’t stop dancing ’cause he’s worried his heart will stop. And it’s lovely. It’s great.”
You won’t find a better endorsement than that, but allow me to elaborate. Imagine Only Lovers Left Alive meets What We Do in the Shadows by way of Yorgos Lanthimos. The...
Here are five recommendations you can stream on Screambox right now.
Norway
At the Abigail premiere, Dan Stevens listed Norway among his four favorite vampire movies. “I just saw a great movie recently that I’d never heard of,” he told Letterboxd. “A Greek film called Norway, about a vampire who basically exists in the underground disco scene in ’80s Athens, and he can’t stop dancing ’cause he’s worried his heart will stop. And it’s lovely. It’s great.”
You won’t find a better endorsement than that, but allow me to elaborate. Imagine Only Lovers Left Alive meets What We Do in the Shadows by way of Yorgos Lanthimos. The...
- 4/23/2024
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Devil is in the Details.
After kicking off April with discussions of Matt Damon’s demon twink in The Talented Mr. Ripley (listen) and the perfect balance of horror and comedy in John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London (listen), we’re heading over to Netflix to look at Ciarán Foy‘s horror version of The Boy in the Plastic Bubble in the 2019 film Eli.
In the film, a young boy with a rare autoimmune disease named Eli (Charlie Shotwell) is brought by his parents (Kelly Reilly and Max Martini) to a private medical facility owned by Dr. Isabella Horn (Lili Taylor). After beginning an experimental medical procedure to cure him, Eli begins experiencing strange, seemingly threatening hallucinations of Dr. Horn’s past patients, and must figure out what’s really going on beore it’s too late.
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday.
After kicking off April with discussions of Matt Damon’s demon twink in The Talented Mr. Ripley (listen) and the perfect balance of horror and comedy in John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London (listen), we’re heading over to Netflix to look at Ciarán Foy‘s horror version of The Boy in the Plastic Bubble in the 2019 film Eli.
In the film, a young boy with a rare autoimmune disease named Eli (Charlie Shotwell) is brought by his parents (Kelly Reilly and Max Martini) to a private medical facility owned by Dr. Isabella Horn (Lili Taylor). After beginning an experimental medical procedure to cure him, Eli begins experiencing strange, seemingly threatening hallucinations of Dr. Horn’s past patients, and must figure out what’s really going on beore it’s too late.
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday.
- 4/22/2024
- by Trace Thurman
- bloody-disgusting.com
On April 5th, 20th Century Studios gave a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here) – and the movie was surprisingly well-received, with JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray giving it an 8/10 review and Tyler Nichols writing an article about why it works so well. The movie hasn’t been burning up the box office charts; made on a budget of $30 million, it has only pulled in $36 million so far. But if a sequel were to get the greenlight, director Arkasha Stevenson knows one subject she would want to cover in the follow-up: the mystery of the jackal.
In the original The Omen, we were told that the Antichrist was born of a jackal. The First Omen digs deeper into his parentage, letting us know that it wasn’t quite as simple (although very strange) as it appeared to be in the original movie,...
In the original The Omen, we were told that the Antichrist was born of a jackal. The First Omen digs deeper into his parentage, letting us know that it wasn’t quite as simple (although very strange) as it appeared to be in the original movie,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The 1970s– an era of “unrest and mistrust, fear and violence,” says the opening minutes of Colin and Cameron Cairnes’ Late Night with the Devil, accurately reflecting the viewpoint of the burgeoning moral panic of the time. Fear mongering-ish as that sounds, after a decade of Christianity in crisis mode– including a 1966 Times cover asking, “Is God Dead?”– and the “Satanic” cult murders by the Manson Family in 1969, the ’70s were a time of peak (at least until then) obsession with all things occult, planting the seeds and ultimately leading to what would be known as the full-blown Satanic Panic in the decade to follow. The devil was believed to be real, and he was to be feared, expelled, and/or worshiped– in real life and reflected in dozens and dozens of horror films and countless categories of other media within that era.
Late Night with the Devil toys with all this,...
Late Night with the Devil toys with all this,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Julieann Stipidis
- bloody-disgusting.com
After concluding March with Raja Gosnell’s Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (listen) and James Whale’s The Invisible Man (listen), we kicked off April with a discussion of Anthony Minghella’s The Talented Mr. Ripley (listen). Now we’re checking off another classic with John Landis‘ 1981 werewolf film, An American Werewolf in London. In the film, American best friends David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne) are horrifically attacked while backpacking through the UK Moors. Jack is killed and David spends a month recuperating in the hospital, where he befriends attractive nurse Alex (Jenny Agutter) and kindly Dr. Hirsch (John Woodvine). On the cusp of his release, the mangled corpse of Jack visits David, warning that on the full moon he will become a lycanthrope unless he kills himself. But David is unable to accept his fate and a series of terrible murders follow. As the bodies (and the comedy) pile up,...
- 4/15/2024
- by Joe Lipsett
- bloody-disgusting.com
Back in 1999, Joshua Leonard made his acting debut in the now-iconic found-footage film “The Blair Witch Project.” In the last 25 years he’s directed five of his own films and starred in dozens of others, but is still fighting to be taken seriously in Hollywood.
At last week’s CinemaCon, Lionsgate and Blumhouse announced the development of a”The Blair Witch Project” reboot. Leonard’s face was on the press release — but in an April 12 social media post, he said he knew nothing about the project.
“This is My face on a press release for a film being made by two major studios — both I’ve worked for, both I respect,” Leonard wrote on Facebook. “The Weird Part is that I didn’t know anything about it until a friend sent me a ‘congrats’ screenshot yesterday. My frustration is compounded b/c I’ve been trying to get @lionsgate to...
At last week’s CinemaCon, Lionsgate and Blumhouse announced the development of a”The Blair Witch Project” reboot. Leonard’s face was on the press release — but in an April 12 social media post, he said he knew nothing about the project.
“This is My face on a press release for a film being made by two major studios — both I’ve worked for, both I respect,” Leonard wrote on Facebook. “The Weird Part is that I didn’t know anything about it until a friend sent me a ‘congrats’ screenshot yesterday. My frustration is compounded b/c I’ve been trying to get @lionsgate to...
- 4/15/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
If you thought babysitting was tough, try stopping the birth of the Antichrist. The First Omen sweeps you into a visually lush 1970s Rome, serving up a sumptuous feast for the eyes that’s as stylish as it is shadowy. Although you might find yourself guessing the twists before they unfurl, the film keeps its grip with a dark, rich portrayal of evil’s origins. It’s all for you, Damien.
“[The First Omen serves] up a sumptuous feast for the eyes that’s as stylish as it is shadowy.”
From the opening scenes, the film devilishly dazzles with a rich color palette that superbly captures the eerie 1970s Rome, replete with political unrest, religious skepticism and foreboding religious iconography. The grandeur of the Eternal City is captured in sweeping vistas, which, combined with a robust orchestral score, elevates the production value to a level that’s a rarity in modern horror flicks. There...
“[The First Omen serves] up a sumptuous feast for the eyes that’s as stylish as it is shadowy.”
From the opening scenes, the film devilishly dazzles with a rich color palette that superbly captures the eerie 1970s Rome, replete with political unrest, religious skepticism and foreboding religious iconography. The grandeur of the Eternal City is captured in sweeping vistas, which, combined with a robust orchestral score, elevates the production value to a level that’s a rarity in modern horror flicks. There...
- 4/12/2024
- by Kimberley Elizabeth
“Paranormal Activity” juggernaut Blumhouse is returning to the Og found footage franchise, “The Blair Witch Project.”
During CinemaCon 2024, Lionsgate announced a multi-picture pact with Blumhouse to reimagine other horror classics from the Lionsgate library, starting with the iconic 1999 indie. No other specific titles from the library were unveiled on during Wednesday’s CinemaCon presentation.
“I’m very grateful to Adam and the team at Lionsgate for letting us play in their sandbox. I’m a huge admirer of ‘The Blair Witch Project,’ which brought the idea of found footage horror to mainstream audiences and became a true cultural phenomenon,” Blumhouse founder and CEO Jason Blum said. “I don’t think there would have been a ‘Paranormal Activity’ had there not first been a ‘Blair Witch,’ so this feels like a truly special opportunity and I’m excited to see where it leads.”
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson added,...
During CinemaCon 2024, Lionsgate announced a multi-picture pact with Blumhouse to reimagine other horror classics from the Lionsgate library, starting with the iconic 1999 indie. No other specific titles from the library were unveiled on during Wednesday’s CinemaCon presentation.
“I’m very grateful to Adam and the team at Lionsgate for letting us play in their sandbox. I’m a huge admirer of ‘The Blair Witch Project,’ which brought the idea of found footage horror to mainstream audiences and became a true cultural phenomenon,” Blumhouse founder and CEO Jason Blum said. “I don’t think there would have been a ‘Paranormal Activity’ had there not first been a ‘Blair Witch,’ so this feels like a truly special opportunity and I’m excited to see where it leads.”
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson added,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The infamous Satanic Panic is often referred to as the 20th century equivalent of the Salem Witch Trials, with innocent heavy metal fans and Dungeons & Dragons players being accused of worshipping Satan while apocalyptic conspiracy theories about the rise of the Antichrist and the supposed “Mark of the Beast” ran rampant amongst radical believers. However, what a lot of people don’t know is that horror cinema played an accidentally crucial role in inspiring this regrettable era of prejudice and misinformation.
In fact, there are a handful of specific horror films that informed most of the fears we now associate with the Satanic Panic, with some of the most influential being Richard Donner’s 1977 classic The Omen and its numerous follow-ups. Despite playing fast and loose with their religious influences, these movies would go on to popularize then-obscure bits of biblical lore (like the Satanic connotations of “666”) that most...
In fact, there are a handful of specific horror films that informed most of the fears we now associate with the Satanic Panic, with some of the most influential being Richard Donner’s 1977 classic The Omen and its numerous follow-ups. Despite playing fast and loose with their religious influences, these movies would go on to popularize then-obscure bits of biblical lore (like the Satanic connotations of “666”) that most...
- 4/10/2024
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
We're big fans of the horror genre here at /Film. In my humble opinion, it's the best of the film genres — one that can be molded, sculpted, and altered to fit into different-sized packages. Horror can be therapeutic. It can elicit emotions in us that remind us we're still alive and kicking. Like Nicole Kidman in that annoying AMC ad, we come to this place for magic. We come to horror movies to love, to cry, to care. Because we need that, all of us. With that in mind, we're unleashing a new monthly feature where we highlight the best horror movies to stream this month. So let's get ready to scream/stream.
Read more: The 15 Best Horror Movie Directors Of All Time
Late Night With The Devil
Streaming on Shudder April 19.
A horror mockumentary that plays its cards just right, "Late Night With the Devil" is one of the...
Read more: The 15 Best Horror Movie Directors Of All Time
Late Night With The Devil
Streaming on Shudder April 19.
A horror mockumentary that plays its cards just right, "Late Night With the Devil" is one of the...
- 4/8/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
For the first time in 18 years, the classic horror franchise The Omen is back on the big screen with director Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen, a prequel to the original 1976 classic.
The First Omen is the franchise’s first movie since the lackluster remake back in 2006, which ended its worldwide box office run with $119 million. How will the new movie stack up?
In its debut weekend, The First Omen scared up $8.3 million in the States and another $9.1 million internationally, for a worldwide box office debut of $17,463,000.
For the sake of comparison, that worldwide number almost matches the domestic opening weekend total of The Omen back in 2006, which debuted to $16 million in the United States.
The reported production budget for The First Omen was $30 million – about $5 million more than the 2006 remake – so it needs to make quite a bit more before it’s profitable.
But the story here isn’t...
The First Omen is the franchise’s first movie since the lackluster remake back in 2006, which ended its worldwide box office run with $119 million. How will the new movie stack up?
In its debut weekend, The First Omen scared up $8.3 million in the States and another $9.1 million internationally, for a worldwide box office debut of $17,463,000.
For the sake of comparison, that worldwide number almost matches the domestic opening weekend total of The Omen back in 2006, which debuted to $16 million in the United States.
The reported production budget for The First Omen was $30 million – about $5 million more than the 2006 remake – so it needs to make quite a bit more before it’s profitable.
But the story here isn’t...
- 4/8/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
From the director of acclaimed classics such as Max Payne and A Good Day to Die Hard, as well as the second-unit camera operator on Space Truckers, comes a movie made simply because its release date was badass. Join JoBlo Horror as we shout at the devil with The Omen. Welcome to our horror party, kids, where we take some horror films (good or bad) and make a fun game out of it. I’m Mike Conway, and because of the release of The First Omen, we are looking into the eyes of evil with The Omen released in 2006 (watch it Here).
The Omen follows diplomat Robert Thorn and his wife Katherine. After Katherine unknowingly gives birth to a stillborn child, Robert is approached by a priest to take a newborn from a mother who had just died. As the years go by, grisly and mysterious deaths begin to surround their child,...
The Omen follows diplomat Robert Thorn and his wife Katherine. After Katherine unknowingly gives birth to a stillborn child, Robert is approached by a priest to take a newborn from a mother who had just died. As the years go by, grisly and mysterious deaths begin to surround their child,...
- 4/8/2024
- by Michael Conway
- JoBlo.com
Worldwide box office April 5-7 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire (Warner Bros) $91m $361m $59.3m $226m 70 2. Kung Fu Panda 4 (Universal) $35.3m $410.4m $27.4m $244.4m 77 3. The Boy And The Heron (various) $34m $273.2m $34m $226.6m 23 4. Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros) $18.4m $660.7m $11.2m $395.8m 74 5. The First Omen (Disney) $17.5m $17.5m $9.1m $9.1m 44 6. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (Sony) $16.1m $138.2m $7.1m $49.3m 32 7. Monkey Man (Universal) $12.7m $12.7m $2.6m $2.6m 28 8. Chantal im Marchenland (various) $4.8m $13.3m $4.8m $13.3m 2 9. Dwelling By The West Lake (various) $4.2m $8.4m $4.2m $8.4m...
- 4/8/2024
- ScreenDaily
Major spoilers for "Immaculate" and "The First Omen" follow.
There's a history of movies with oddly similar premises premiering within months of each other. "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact" both hit theaters in the summer of 1998, much like the Earth-shattering meteors featured in both films. The year before, there was "Volcano" and "Dante's Peak." 2022 gave us not one but two "Pinocchio" movies (with a clean victory for Guillermo del Toro's version).
This past month saw the latest case of dueling movies: "Immaculate," released on March 22, 2024, and "The First Omen," released on April 5, 2024. Both films are about American nuns who fly off to a new life in Italy. Once they arrive at the convent, the young sister discovers a sinister conspiracy at work and becomes pregnant via an unnatural conception. Unlike Mother Mary, the fruits of their wombs are not blessed.
"Immaculate," starring new starlet Sydney Sweeney as Sister Cecilia and directed by Michael Mohan,...
There's a history of movies with oddly similar premises premiering within months of each other. "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact" both hit theaters in the summer of 1998, much like the Earth-shattering meteors featured in both films. The year before, there was "Volcano" and "Dante's Peak." 2022 gave us not one but two "Pinocchio" movies (with a clean victory for Guillermo del Toro's version).
This past month saw the latest case of dueling movies: "Immaculate," released on March 22, 2024, and "The First Omen," released on April 5, 2024. Both films are about American nuns who fly off to a new life in Italy. Once they arrive at the convent, the young sister discovers a sinister conspiracy at work and becomes pregnant via an unnatural conception. Unlike Mother Mary, the fruits of their wombs are not blessed.
"Immaculate," starring new starlet Sydney Sweeney as Sister Cecilia and directed by Michael Mohan,...
- 4/7/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Damien Thorn is the antichrist, and the trilogy that tells his unholy tale remains popular almost fifty years later. Indeed, while putting together this Omen movie ranked list and revisiting the original franchise, I was surprised at how well the old movies held up. Omen fans will be happy that the series has been restarted in a pretty interesting way this weekend, with The First Omen a surprisingly excellent prequel to the original trilogy (check out our interviews with the director and cast here), even if it takes one large liberty involving Damien’s birth that some fans may have an issue with. So, how do the Omen films rank against each other? Let’s take a look, but remember that the Fox TV movie, Omen IV: The Awakening, is not included, as I’m sticking with feature films.
The Omen (2006):
There’s honestly no reason for this movie to exist.
The Omen (2006):
There’s honestly no reason for this movie to exist.
- 4/7/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” dominated the domestic box office again, looming large over newcomers “Monkey Man” and “The First Omen.”
Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment’s monster tentpole added $31.7 million from 3,948 theaters in its second weekend of release. Ticket sales dropped a standard (for a tentpole of its size and scale) 60% from its mighty $80 million debut and stand at $132 million domestically and $361 million globally.
First-time director Dev Patel’s action thriller “Monkey Man” nabbed second place with $10.1 million from 3,029 venues, while Disney and 20th Century’s supernatural prequel “The First Omen” trailed at the No. 4 spot with a muted $8.4 million from 3,375 locations.
Both “Monkey Man” and “The First Omen” were destined for streaming — and not the big screen. With “Monkey Man,” originally set at Netflix, Universal Pictures landed rights for $10 million after filmmaker Jordan Peele (whose production company has a distribution deal with Universal) saw the movie and...
Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment’s monster tentpole added $31.7 million from 3,948 theaters in its second weekend of release. Ticket sales dropped a standard (for a tentpole of its size and scale) 60% from its mighty $80 million debut and stand at $132 million domestically and $361 million globally.
First-time director Dev Patel’s action thriller “Monkey Man” nabbed second place with $10.1 million from 3,029 venues, while Disney and 20th Century’s supernatural prequel “The First Omen” trailed at the No. 4 spot with a muted $8.4 million from 3,375 locations.
Both “Monkey Man” and “The First Omen” were destined for streaming — and not the big screen. With “Monkey Man,” originally set at Netflix, Universal Pictures landed rights for $10 million after filmmaker Jordan Peele (whose production company has a distribution deal with Universal) saw the movie and...
- 4/7/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
It’s a primate face-off at the box office this weekend, plus some old-fashioned Antichrist horror on the side. Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” looks to stick on top of domestic charts, holding off the opening weekend bows of Universal’s beat-em-up “Monkey Man” and 20th Century Studios’ horror revival “The First Omen.”
That kaiju victory lap probably has less to do with the staying power of “The New Empire” than the strength of its competition though. The blockbuster monster mash earned $8.5 million on Friday, down a steep 77% from its opening day a week ago. “The New Empire” could be eyeing a drop north of 60% across the three-day frame — not a superlatively large decline from a blockbuster’s opening weekend, but still a pretty sizable one. It puts in perspective the impressively slim 44% drop that fellow Legendary production “Dune: Part Two” faced in its sophomore outing.
That kaiju victory lap probably has less to do with the staying power of “The New Empire” than the strength of its competition though. The blockbuster monster mash earned $8.5 million on Friday, down a steep 77% from its opening day a week ago. “The New Empire” could be eyeing a drop north of 60% across the three-day frame — not a superlatively large decline from a blockbuster’s opening weekend, but still a pretty sizable one. It puts in perspective the impressively slim 44% drop that fellow Legendary production “Dune: Part Two” faced in its sophomore outing.
- 4/6/2024
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Faith as an institution has historically been founded upon the goodwill of bringing people together, but in the wrong hands, like every other medium, it can be wielded as a terrible weapon to doom humankind. Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen, a prequel to the original The Omen (1976), focuses on the malevolent potential of faith when it is controlled by peddlers of religion. As the movie acts as a period piece to showcase a transition in contemporary Western generational consciousness, the horror aspects of the narrative get an anchor to establish themselves in a meaningful way.
David Seltzer’s horror classic The Omen gained much success through the sensational choice of portraying a child as the central evil entity and also by delineating the dispensationalist belief system, which had started making an impact on the cultural zeitgeist of the Western world during the 1970s. The first movie’s success was...
David Seltzer’s horror classic The Omen gained much success through the sensational choice of portraying a child as the central evil entity and also by delineating the dispensationalist belief system, which had started making an impact on the cultural zeitgeist of the Western world during the 1970s. The first movie’s success was...
- 4/6/2024
- by Siddhartha Das
- Film Fugitives
Plot: A young novitiate in Rome (Nell Tiger Free) is warned by an ex-communicated priest (Ralph Ineson) that she’s at the center of a sinister conspiracy at her church dedicated to spawning the anti-Christ.
Review: I’ve always really enjoyed The Omen as a franchise. Even as a kid, I found something about the original trilogy centring around Damien Thorn especially gripping. However, I never had much use for the cheap TV movie sequel (Omen IV: The Awakening) or the scene-for-scene remake, which, despite a game cast, didn’t come close to recapturing the grisly spirit of Richard Donner’s original.
As such, I figured The First Omen would be just another would-be franchise starter, but I have to give 20th Century Studios and Disney credit – they made one hell of a cool horror flick (pun intended). In some ways, it’s a bit like Wonka (bear with...
Review: I’ve always really enjoyed The Omen as a franchise. Even as a kid, I found something about the original trilogy centring around Damien Thorn especially gripping. However, I never had much use for the cheap TV movie sequel (Omen IV: The Awakening) or the scene-for-scene remake, which, despite a game cast, didn’t come close to recapturing the grisly spirit of Richard Donner’s original.
As such, I figured The First Omen would be just another would-be franchise starter, but I have to give 20th Century Studios and Disney credit – they made one hell of a cool horror flick (pun intended). In some ways, it’s a bit like Wonka (bear with...
- 4/5/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
This article contains major The First Omen spoilers.
It is said the Devil is in the details, and the details are quite devilish, indeed, in The First Omen. The surprisingly stylish and adroit chiller from first-time feature director Arkasha Stevenson takes the well-worn Hollywood formula of making a “story before the story” prequel, and actually conjures something drenched in atmosphere, originality, and modern urgency. Most of the time.
While the movie has a despairing timeliness in 2024 with its parable about a patriarchal system attempting to control and use women’s bodies to achieve their own power-hungry ends, The First Omen is still also a prequel to a film that was released almost 50 years ago. As such, it is forced to conclude where The Omen begins. And in the case of a franchise as steeped in opaque mysticism and religious dread as this, that kind of ending might baffle newcomers to the series.
It is said the Devil is in the details, and the details are quite devilish, indeed, in The First Omen. The surprisingly stylish and adroit chiller from first-time feature director Arkasha Stevenson takes the well-worn Hollywood formula of making a “story before the story” prequel, and actually conjures something drenched in atmosphere, originality, and modern urgency. Most of the time.
While the movie has a despairing timeliness in 2024 with its parable about a patriarchal system attempting to control and use women’s bodies to achieve their own power-hungry ends, The First Omen is still also a prequel to a film that was released almost 50 years ago. As such, it is forced to conclude where The Omen begins. And in the case of a franchise as steeped in opaque mysticism and religious dread as this, that kind of ending might baffle newcomers to the series.
- 4/5/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
[Editor’s note: The following article contains spoilers for “The First Omen.”]
In the IP-mad world of Hollywood, we’ve got remakes and sequels, re-quels and “legacy prequels,” entire cinematic timelines up-ended and rearranged, whole franchises twisted to and fro, so isn’t it refreshing to see something like Arkasha Stevenson’s “The First Omen”? It’s the rare contemporary horror prequel that wears its devotion to the original series on its sleeve, while also cleverly reorienting previous events to chart a potential new storyline.
The basis of Stevenson’s film, which she co-wrote with producers Tim Smith and Keith Thomas, takes a classic subplot from Richard Donner’s 1976 chiller — that not only is young Damien the Antichrist, but that he was the product of a planned spawning between the Devil and a female jackal — and makes it a touch more believable. In “The First Omen,” Damien’s mom isn’t actually a jackal, but young would-be nun Margaret...
In the IP-mad world of Hollywood, we’ve got remakes and sequels, re-quels and “legacy prequels,” entire cinematic timelines up-ended and rearranged, whole franchises twisted to and fro, so isn’t it refreshing to see something like Arkasha Stevenson’s “The First Omen”? It’s the rare contemporary horror prequel that wears its devotion to the original series on its sleeve, while also cleverly reorienting previous events to chart a potential new storyline.
The basis of Stevenson’s film, which she co-wrote with producers Tim Smith and Keith Thomas, takes a classic subplot from Richard Donner’s 1976 chiller — that not only is young Damien the Antichrist, but that he was the product of a planned spawning between the Devil and a female jackal — and makes it a touch more believable. In “The First Omen,” Damien’s mom isn’t actually a jackal, but young would-be nun Margaret...
- 4/5/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The episode of The Best of the Bad Guys focusing on Damien Thorn was written, narrated, and edited by Mike Holtz.
The Prince of Darkness. Heir to both Hell and Thorn Industries. The antichrist himself and guy who gets his haircut at Great Clips, Damien Thorn. The titular character of The Omen franchise will be praised not by his usual followers but by us as we dive into the second edition of The Best Of The Bad Guys, where we rank the best work of cinema’s most evil villains.
Damien Thorn’s run of evil has spanned five films including an utterly pointless shot-for-shot remake and a TV series with another prequel on the way in The First Omen. And though The Omen IV: The Awakening doesn’t follow Damien himself; his presence is felt. The franchise started in 1976 with legendary director Richard Donner giving us the first version...
The Prince of Darkness. Heir to both Hell and Thorn Industries. The antichrist himself and guy who gets his haircut at Great Clips, Damien Thorn. The titular character of The Omen franchise will be praised not by his usual followers but by us as we dive into the second edition of The Best Of The Bad Guys, where we rank the best work of cinema’s most evil villains.
Damien Thorn’s run of evil has spanned five films including an utterly pointless shot-for-shot remake and a TV series with another prequel on the way in The First Omen. And though The Omen IV: The Awakening doesn’t follow Damien himself; his presence is felt. The franchise started in 1976 with legendary director Richard Donner giving us the first version...
- 4/5/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Sanguis bibimus! Corpus edimus! In a partnership between Mutant, Hollywood Records, and 20th Century Films, the haunting soundtrack to "The First Omen" can soon be yours on vinyl. The prequel to Richard Donner's 1976 masterpiece, director Arkashsa Stevenson's most excellent "The First Omen" is the rare example of a legacy film done right, and what /Film's Witney Seibold described in his review, as "a film of dank, bloody, spittle-flecked dread, made no less powerful by the foregone conclusion." Donner's original film shocked audiences upon release and is believed to this day to be a cursed film, but Stevenson's prequel film had to fight with the MPA to avoid an Nc-17 rating, so the franchise tradition of scaring the squares is alive and well.
"The Omen" was scored by Jerry Goldsmith, who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score, but took home the "Best Original Song" statue for the movie's theme "Ave Satani,...
"The Omen" was scored by Jerry Goldsmith, who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score, but took home the "Best Original Song" statue for the movie's theme "Ave Satani,...
- 4/5/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The Omen was a blessed success upon its release, earning a spot among the top 10 highest-grossing films of 1976. One of those ticket buyers was Wes Craven, who had already made his debut with The Last House on the Left and was gearing up for his sophomore film, The Hills Have Eyes.
“I remember thinking, ‘Big studio, won’t have a cutting edge to it. Gregory Peck, how can he be scary? I like him, but.’ And it was. I was totally amazed,” the master of horror recalled in a 2006 DVD special feature in which he waxes poetic about The Omen for some 20 minutes.
“I think [Richard] Donner is just one of our primo filmmakers.” Craven had been watching the future Superman and The Goonies director’s work since his early days helming episodes of classic TV shows like The Twilight Zone and Gilligan’s Island. “Every so often, he just knocks something...
“I remember thinking, ‘Big studio, won’t have a cutting edge to it. Gregory Peck, how can he be scary? I like him, but.’ And it was. I was totally amazed,” the master of horror recalled in a 2006 DVD special feature in which he waxes poetic about The Omen for some 20 minutes.
“I think [Richard] Donner is just one of our primo filmmakers.” Craven had been watching the future Superman and The Goonies director’s work since his early days helming episodes of classic TV shows like The Twilight Zone and Gilligan’s Island. “Every so often, he just knocks something...
- 4/5/2024
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
This week's Empire Podcast has more guests than the Overlook Hotel, all chatting to Chris Hewitt about their new movies. First, producer Jordan Peele tells Chris why he was so taken by Dev Patel's directorial debut, Monkey Man, that he came on board to help it get a theatrical release. Plus, they also talk why Peele is no longer acting. [15:40 - 30:56 approx] Then, Rufus Sewell — who plays Prince Andrew in Scoop, a film based on the infamous 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis — and director Philip Martin talk about the task of playing one of the most famous men on the planet. [44:28 - 59:38 approx] And finally, while The First Omen — the prequel to The Omen, which shall henceforth be known as The Second Omen — is a terrifying tour de force, Chris' interview with its stars, Nell Tiger Free and Bill Nighy, is anything but as they talk about being dressed by the Vatican, being hit by lightning,...
- 4/5/2024
- by Chris Hewitt
- Empire - Movies
Growing up, The Omen franchise was one of my favorites. And like many a film series, the subsequent sequels couldn’t come close to the original. Even still, I appreciated the first three films. I was doubtful this would be remotely good. That is until me and my horror loving buddy Matt Van Winkle were happily shocked after seeing the new flick. The prequel is frankly one of the best franchise horror films I’ve seen in a long while. Arkasha creates a wonderful sense of dread with a final act that will creep you the f*ck out. Add to that, Nell Tiger Free is utterly sensational as a young idealistic nun facing true evil – and dare I say it’s an award worthy performance. I absolutely loved this film.
Not only did I love the film, talking to both Arkasha Stevenson and Nell Tiger Free was a marvelous experience.
Not only did I love the film, talking to both Arkasha Stevenson and Nell Tiger Free was a marvelous experience.
- 4/5/2024
- by JimmyO
- JoBlo.com
The horror prequel “The First Omen” and the action thriller “Monkey Man” arrive in theaters this weekend, but they’ll be no match for the mighty force of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”
20th Century Studios’ “The First Omen” opened with $725,000 in previews at the box office, while Universal’s “Monkey Man” opened a bit higher with $1.4 million.
It may be a close finish, but “The First Omen” is expected to pull away and finish in second place behind “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” The horror movie, a prequel to 1976’s classic “The Omen,” is projected to make between $14 million and $15 million in its opening weekend. “Monkey Man,” which was directed, co-written and stars Dev Patel, aims for a $12 million launch.
Last week’s box office champ, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” beat expectations and opened with a very strong $80 million. In its second weekend, Warner Bros....
20th Century Studios’ “The First Omen” opened with $725,000 in previews at the box office, while Universal’s “Monkey Man” opened a bit higher with $1.4 million.
It may be a close finish, but “The First Omen” is expected to pull away and finish in second place behind “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” The horror movie, a prequel to 1976’s classic “The Omen,” is projected to make between $14 million and $15 million in its opening weekend. “Monkey Man,” which was directed, co-written and stars Dev Patel, aims for a $12 million launch.
Last week’s box office champ, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” beat expectations and opened with a very strong $80 million. In its second weekend, Warner Bros....
- 4/5/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
This article contains minor spoilers for "The First Omen."
When The Walt Disney Company first acquired 20th Century Studios, fans had a field day joking about the characters in their library that were now under the Disney banner. Ripley from "Alien," Tyler Durden from "Fight Club," the titular "Predator," and all of the "Planet of the Apes" characters were now residents at the House of Mouse. Suddenly, viral memes declaring Dr. Frank-n-Furter from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" as a technical Disney Princess were inescapable. Ignoring the blatant inaccuracy of that statement, it does serve as a reminder that Disney is and will likely forever be synonymous with family-friendly fare.
When Steve Asbell took over as president of 20th Century Studios, he spoke with The Hollywood Reporter and assured everyone that despite being a part of Disney, this branch would be closer to "general entertainment," saying, "Some films will be more Disney-adjacent — 'Avatar,...
When The Walt Disney Company first acquired 20th Century Studios, fans had a field day joking about the characters in their library that were now under the Disney banner. Ripley from "Alien," Tyler Durden from "Fight Club," the titular "Predator," and all of the "Planet of the Apes" characters were now residents at the House of Mouse. Suddenly, viral memes declaring Dr. Frank-n-Furter from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" as a technical Disney Princess were inescapable. Ignoring the blatant inaccuracy of that statement, it does serve as a reminder that Disney is and will likely forever be synonymous with family-friendly fare.
When Steve Asbell took over as president of 20th Century Studios, he spoke with The Hollywood Reporter and assured everyone that despite being a part of Disney, this branch would be closer to "general entertainment," saying, "Some films will be more Disney-adjacent — 'Avatar,...
- 4/5/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Richard Donner's 1976 horror film "The Omen" is an undeniable classic. The supposed real-life curse surrounding the film's production has transported the movie to a level of infamy, and countless horror fans can recall the first time they saw a bright-eyed nanny exclaim "It's all for you, Damien!" before intentionally hanging herself in full view of an audience of horrified child's birthday party attendees. The film spawned three sequels and a "time to profit off the 06/06/06 calendar date" remake in 2006, but plenty of horror fans still view the original "The Omen" as sacred text. Fortunately, this is how "The First Omen" co-writer/director Arkasha Stevenson and co-writer Tim Smith view the film as well.
The latest genre release from 20th Century Studios, "The First Omen" is a prequel film set in the 1970s, dovetailing directly into Donner's 1976 masterpiece. The story follows a young nun named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) who joins a convent in Rome,...
The latest genre release from 20th Century Studios, "The First Omen" is a prequel film set in the 1970s, dovetailing directly into Donner's 1976 masterpiece. The story follows a young nun named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) who joins a convent in Rome,...
- 4/5/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Nell Tiger Free in The First OmenPhoto: Moris Puccio/20th Century Studios
Horror prequels have a tendency to fizzle for a number of reasons, whether they lean too hard on the lore of the original or they start telegraphing all the punches that made the film they’re prequelizing scary to begin with.
Horror prequels have a tendency to fizzle for a number of reasons, whether they lean too hard on the lore of the original or they start telegraphing all the punches that made the film they’re prequelizing scary to begin with.
- 4/5/2024
- by Matthew Jackson
- avclub.com
The First Omen releases in theaters on April 5th, 2024.
I don’t know to what extent The Omen (1976) is considered a classic, but the truth is that it was one of the most profitable films of its respective year, it has one of the most memorable scores of that decade – so much so that it even won an Oscar, something extremely rare considering the genre – and, of course, it spawned several sequels and even a remake over all these years. The First Omen is the sixth installment of the franchise and, as the title indicates, it’s a prequel to the original movie. It’s also the directorial debut of Arkasha Stevenson who also co-writes the screenplay along with Tim Smith and Keith Tomas (Firestarter).
Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free) is a young American woman sent to Rome to start a devout life for the church, but she encounters strange...
I don’t know to what extent The Omen (1976) is considered a classic, but the truth is that it was one of the most profitable films of its respective year, it has one of the most memorable scores of that decade – so much so that it even won an Oscar, something extremely rare considering the genre – and, of course, it spawned several sequels and even a remake over all these years. The First Omen is the sixth installment of the franchise and, as the title indicates, it’s a prequel to the original movie. It’s also the directorial debut of Arkasha Stevenson who also co-writes the screenplay along with Tim Smith and Keith Tomas (Firestarter).
Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free) is a young American woman sent to Rome to start a devout life for the church, but she encounters strange...
- 4/5/2024
- by Manuel São Bento
- FandomWire
This article contains spoilers for "The Omen" and "The First Omen."
In Richard Donner's terrifying 1976 horror film "The Omen," American diplomat and presidential hopeful Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) rushes to a hospital in Rome, Italy as his wife Kathy (Lee Remick) has just given birth to their first child. Tragically, Robert is told that the child has died, but Kathy is unaware of the baby's passing. Once he arrives, he is greeted by hospital chaplain Father Spiletto (Martin Benson) who offers him a chance to spare his wife the unfathomable pain. He tells Robert that at the same time Kathy lost their child, a woman in a neighboring hospital room died during childbirth, leaving her baby without a mother. He persuades Robert to accept this baby boy and pass it on as their own biological baby, believing that what Kathy doesn't know won't hurt her.
A nun passes the...
In Richard Donner's terrifying 1976 horror film "The Omen," American diplomat and presidential hopeful Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) rushes to a hospital in Rome, Italy as his wife Kathy (Lee Remick) has just given birth to their first child. Tragically, Robert is told that the child has died, but Kathy is unaware of the baby's passing. Once he arrives, he is greeted by hospital chaplain Father Spiletto (Martin Benson) who offers him a chance to spare his wife the unfathomable pain. He tells Robert that at the same time Kathy lost their child, a woman in a neighboring hospital room died during childbirth, leaving her baby without a mother. He persuades Robert to accept this baby boy and pass it on as their own biological baby, believing that what Kathy doesn't know won't hurt her.
A nun passes the...
- 4/5/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut Monkey Man leads the new films at this weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, starting in 592 cinemas through Universal.
Directed, produced, from a story by and starring Patel, Monkey Man follows an anonymous young man who unleashes a campaign of violence against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother, and continue to systematically victimise the poor and powerless.
Filmed in early 2021, Netflix originally bought worldwide rights to Monkey Man. After Jordan Peele boarded the title as producer through his Monkeypaw Productions, Universal acquired it from Netflix earlier this year. It debuted at SXSW last month.
Directed, produced, from a story by and starring Patel, Monkey Man follows an anonymous young man who unleashes a campaign of violence against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother, and continue to systematically victimise the poor and powerless.
Filmed in early 2021, Netflix originally bought worldwide rights to Monkey Man. After Jordan Peele boarded the title as producer through his Monkeypaw Productions, Universal acquired it from Netflix earlier this year. It debuted at SXSW last month.
- 4/5/2024
- ScreenDaily
The First Omen Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Nell Tiger Free, Tawkeef Barhom, Sonia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy
Director: Arkasha Stevenson
The First Omen Movie Review Out ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
What’s Good: The story and the performances
What’s Bad: The first half is a bit slow
Loo Break: You can take one in the first half if you can’t control
Watch or Not?: If you are craving some good horror & are a fan of the franchise – Yes
Language: English
Available On: Theatrical release
Runtime: 120 Minutes
User Rating:
The First Omen is a prequel to The Omen (1976) that gave us the horrific world of Damien and everything evil that followed. The 2024 film is set in 1971. Margaret (Nell Tiger Free), a young American, arrives in Rome to work at the Vizzardeli Orphanage, where she will take the veil. The more time Margaret spends in the orphanage, the...
Star Cast: Nell Tiger Free, Tawkeef Barhom, Sonia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy
Director: Arkasha Stevenson
The First Omen Movie Review Out ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
What’s Good: The story and the performances
What’s Bad: The first half is a bit slow
Loo Break: You can take one in the first half if you can’t control
Watch or Not?: If you are craving some good horror & are a fan of the franchise – Yes
Language: English
Available On: Theatrical release
Runtime: 120 Minutes
User Rating:
The First Omen is a prequel to The Omen (1976) that gave us the horrific world of Damien and everything evil that followed. The 2024 film is set in 1971. Margaret (Nell Tiger Free), a young American, arrives in Rome to work at the Vizzardeli Orphanage, where she will take the veil. The more time Margaret spends in the orphanage, the...
- 4/5/2024
- by Pooja Darade
- KoiMoi
Arkasha Stevenson makes her feature film directorial debut with the prequel “The First Omen” and it truly delivers! It pays homage to the original 1976 “The Omen” while moving the narrative forward. Big credit goes to Nell Tiger Free as an American woman sent to Rome to work at an orphanage but discovers a dark
The post Nell Tiger Free and Arkasha Stevenson Talk “The First Omen” appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.
The post Nell Tiger Free and Arkasha Stevenson Talk “The First Omen” appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.
- 4/5/2024
- by manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The devil and his minions crop up in a rash of new horror films, from Deliver Us and Immaculate to reboots of The Exorcist and The Omen. What does this tell us about our current anxieties?
Let’s hear it for the diabolically entertaining Late Night With the Devil, the latest example of the Ghostwatch school of things going horribly wrong on live TV. It’s a stunning exercise in sweaty desperation from the always brilliant David Dastmalchian, as a 1970s chatshow host whose ratings grab goes south when he makes the mistake of inviting a demonically possessed cult survivor on to his show. And hello there, long time no see, to Pazuzu (or is it Lamashtu? The jury’s still out), popping up again in The Exorcist: Believer, which tries to get one over on its ancestor The Exorcist by offering two possessed schoolgirls for the price of one – though,...
Let’s hear it for the diabolically entertaining Late Night With the Devil, the latest example of the Ghostwatch school of things going horribly wrong on live TV. It’s a stunning exercise in sweaty desperation from the always brilliant David Dastmalchian, as a 1970s chatshow host whose ratings grab goes south when he makes the mistake of inviting a demonically possessed cult survivor on to his show. And hello there, long time no see, to Pazuzu (or is it Lamashtu? The jury’s still out), popping up again in The Exorcist: Believer, which tries to get one over on its ancestor The Exorcist by offering two possessed schoolgirls for the price of one – though,...
- 4/5/2024
- by Anne Billson
- The Guardian - Film News
The new horror movie The First Omen is now playing in theaters and fans are ready to get scared out of their seats.
Fans who are checking out the movie will likely want to know if they should stick around after the credits for an additional scene. Many movies these days, especially ones that are part of a franchise, will include extra footage at the end to tease future installments or to give audiences some bonus content.
So, do you need to stick around after The First Omen?
Keep reading to find out if you need to wait for a post-credits scene…
We can confirm that No, there is no post-credits scene during the movie The First Omen, so feel free to leave the theater right when the movie ends without having to worry about missing anything.
None of the movies in The Omen franchise have had end credits scenes,...
Fans who are checking out the movie will likely want to know if they should stick around after the credits for an additional scene. Many movies these days, especially ones that are part of a franchise, will include extra footage at the end to tease future installments or to give audiences some bonus content.
So, do you need to stick around after The First Omen?
Keep reading to find out if you need to wait for a post-credits scene…
We can confirm that No, there is no post-credits scene during the movie The First Omen, so feel free to leave the theater right when the movie ends without having to worry about missing anything.
None of the movies in The Omen franchise have had end credits scenes,...
- 4/5/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Back in 1958, director Irvin Yeaworth brought the world a really fun creature feature called The Blob, which was followed by Larry Hagman’s late-to-the-party sequel Beware! The Blob (a.k.a. Son of Blob) in 1972 and an awesome remake directed by Chuck Russell – which ranks as one of the best remakes ever made – in 1988. We’ve been hearing rumblings of another Blob remake for over a decade now. Rob Zombie was attached to write and direct a new version of The Blob for a brief period of time, and commissioned some concept art before leaving the project. The Conjuring writers Chad and Carey Hayes wrote a draft of the script that reimagined the titular being as the B.L.O.B., which stood for Biological Lethal Organic Bomb. Their script was scrapped. Later, Con Air director Simon West was going to be helming the film, with Samuel L. Jackson signed...
- 4/4/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Spoiler Alert: This article discusses plot points from “The First Omen.”
Director Arkasha Stevenson grew up as a fan of “The Omen” franchise, but any anxiety she felt about helming a prequel to the 1976 original was funneled into the potential of shifting the series’ perspective.
“It’s a pretty masculine franchise,” she says. “Exploring it through the point of view of a woman was exciting. It felt like it validated its place because it already had something new to say.”
The result is “The First Omen,” the sixth film in the franchise, which was last seen in a 2006 reboot. This feature, Stevenson’s first after directing episodes of television series like “Channel Zero” and “Brand New Cherry Flavor,” puts the events in motion to start the sprawling tale of Damien, a little boy who is the Antichrist. This kickoff chapter follows a young American woman named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free...
Director Arkasha Stevenson grew up as a fan of “The Omen” franchise, but any anxiety she felt about helming a prequel to the 1976 original was funneled into the potential of shifting the series’ perspective.
“It’s a pretty masculine franchise,” she says. “Exploring it through the point of view of a woman was exciting. It felt like it validated its place because it already had something new to say.”
The result is “The First Omen,” the sixth film in the franchise, which was last seen in a 2006 reboot. This feature, Stevenson’s first after directing episodes of television series like “Channel Zero” and “Brand New Cherry Flavor,” puts the events in motion to start the sprawling tale of Damien, a little boy who is the Antichrist. This kickoff chapter follows a young American woman named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free...
- 4/4/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
What to expect when you’re expecting … the Antichrist?
Filmmaker Arkasha Stevenson delivers her gleefully gruesome answer to that increasingly popular question in 20th Century’s terrifying and triumphant “The First Omen.” It’s a nominally named soft franchise reboot and the vastly superior (if accidental) answer to Neon’s “Immaculate” with Sydney Sweeney, also in theaters now.
Yes, both horror films explore what happens when a child of Christ is involuntarily forced to carry a demon baby to term. And yes, both movies have some merit; trite but true, Damien just doesn’t have that “Cassie from ‘Euphoria’” pull. But only Stevenson’s spin on “The Omen” can tie its borderline Nc-17 terror to a multi-decade genre legacy suddenly feasting on noticeably improved visual artistry and a narratively satisfying revamp of stale IP.
In “The First Omen,” Nell Tiger Free stars as Margaret, an American nun in training come...
Filmmaker Arkasha Stevenson delivers her gleefully gruesome answer to that increasingly popular question in 20th Century’s terrifying and triumphant “The First Omen.” It’s a nominally named soft franchise reboot and the vastly superior (if accidental) answer to Neon’s “Immaculate” with Sydney Sweeney, also in theaters now.
Yes, both horror films explore what happens when a child of Christ is involuntarily forced to carry a demon baby to term. And yes, both movies have some merit; trite but true, Damien just doesn’t have that “Cassie from ‘Euphoria’” pull. But only Stevenson’s spin on “The Omen” can tie its borderline Nc-17 terror to a multi-decade genre legacy suddenly feasting on noticeably improved visual artistry and a narratively satisfying revamp of stale IP.
In “The First Omen,” Nell Tiger Free stars as Margaret, an American nun in training come...
- 4/4/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
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