This engrossing and illuminating documentary offers plenty of choice information on the 1976 horror classic "The Omen." Screenwriter David Seltzer wanted to deal with the whole delusion of the Devil. Religious adviser Robert Munger came up with the idea of a child as the Anti-Christ. The movie was originally supposed to be made by Warner Brothers with Charles Bail as the director. Director Richard Donner removed the more fantastic elements from the script and made the picture more realistic by approaching it as a mystery suspense thriller. Gregory Peck signing on as the star validated the entire project. Harvey Stephens was cast as Damien after he repeatedly hit Donner in the groin at his audition. Donner used a lot of close-up shots of people's eyes to convey the transference of evil. The decapitation was shot from multiple camera angles. The baboons were made angry by putting the big main baboon in back of the car they attacked. The Rottweilers in the cemetery sequence were more interested in mating with each other then they were with attacking the stuntmen. Donner reveals exactly how Lee Remick's startling fall was actually done. Jerry Goldsmith's supremely spooky score with its inspired use of Gregorian chanting further added to the film's considerable impact (Goldsmith was genuinely surprised when he won a well-deserved Oscar for his exceptional music). Damien originally died at the end of the movie. The film holds up to this very day because it has a very simple and well-told story. Donner admits that the movie's monumental success launched his cinematic career. Essential viewing for fans of the film.
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