‘The First Omen’ Review: A lackluster Paint-by-Numbers Horror Film that Could Have Been More

“The First Omen” (directed by Arkasha Stevenson, with a script by Arkasha Stevenson, Tim Smith, and Keith Thomas, based on a story by Ben Jacoby and characters created by David Seltzer) starts off strong but soon degenerates into something altogether bland.

I had high hopes for the film in the first 15 minutes. The soft-focus cinematography by Aaron Morton and the ominous opening theme made the film feel like one of those haunting films that Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci crafted in the ’70s.

In 1971, American novitiate Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free) comes to an orphanage in Rome to work until she is deemed ready to become a nun. Brought there by Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), who has followed her journey for years and acts like a father towards her, she feels safe, even after meeting her roommate and fellow novitiate Luz Valez (Maria Caballero), who’s wild and unpredictable outside of the orphanage. One day, Margaret discovers orphan Carlita Scianna (Nicole Sorace) who’s isolated from the other children and treated harshly by head nun Sister Silvia (Sȏnia Braga). Feeling sorry for Carlita, Margaret tries to help her and stumbles upon a dark conspiracy run by a certain faction of the church that may bring about the end of the world.

Reaching for Low-hanging Fruit

Religious trauma is usually the best type of horror, because it hits you at a primal level. Or at least it should. I had two HUGE issues with the film. First, instead of focusing on atmosphere, director Arkasha Stevenson is content with tossing one jump-scare after another at the audience, relegating the film to a “Friday the 13^th” level of terror (AKA a very miniscule amount). It doesn’t take effort to do jump-scares. There are 5-year-old kids who can hide behind a door and jump out at the right moment to startle their parents. Jump-scares are the laziest form of horror. 

Second, the film rehashes many of the same ideas from 1976’s “The Omen,” even recreating some of the scenes (though trying to add a bit more dramatic flair to them). It makes the film feel more like a remake than a film striving to do something new and imaginative with the material. Sure, there’s an attempt at Cronenberg-style body horror towards the end and even a nod to Andrzej Å»uławski’s 1981 film “Possession” in one scene.  But it feels tacked on and in some cases, it’s unintentionally hilarious.

Some Positives, Especially Maria Caballero

On the plus side, the casting was on point. I especially enjoyed actress Maria Caballero. Caballero, with her thick accent and wild curly hair and swagger, looked like she strutted out of a Fellini film. Had she been around 50 years ago, she could have played the tantalizing Gradisca in Fellini’s “Amarcord,” making all the guys swoon with her beauty and fiery manner.

I’m sure there will be a sequel to “The First Omen.” If so, I hope whoever directs it will watch films like “Midsommar” and “The Exorcist” to see how to really make a film that’s atmospheric.

“The First Omen” is currently playing in theaters.