Each and every one of us have films that stick with us and we love to revisit. If you are like me you have plenty. The Omen from Richard Donner is one I continually go back to on occasion and still find it a terrifying film. I love the mystery and how it unfolds bit by bit leading to what could be considered the ultimate in terror for those raised on The Bible and it’s stories within. The soundtrack alone is enough to scare the hell out of me and turn my hair white if I were to hear it while sitting alone in a darkened room letting my imagination run wild.
Is The Omen my favorite “horror” film? I don’t know. If Jaws is classified as a “horror” film then the answer is NO. Do I prefer The Omen over that other seventies flick dealing with the devil? A resounding YES. Is The Omen better than The Exorcist? Probably not but ask me which one I would rather watch on any given day and it’s the one that pits Atticus Finch vs. The Devil and Mrs. Baylock.
I was too young to see this title at the theater and vaguely recall the sequel playing at local cinemas. Growing up with the VHS era, The Omen and other horrors found a way into our home. I did see the Sam Neill film that finished the Damien Thorn trilogy at the theater.
Part of what sets The Omen above other films of the genre at this time has to be the casting of Gregory Peck in the lead role of a religious themed straight out horror film. It’s hard to come up with too many members of Hollywood royalty appearing in this type of film before Peck did along with a well respected Lee Remick co starring.
And now onto some definitive moments.
“Look at me, Damien! It’s all for you. ”
“When the Jews return to Zion / And a comet rips the sky / And the Holy Roman Empire rises, / Then You and I must die. / From the eternal sea he rises, / Creating armies on either shore, / Turning man against his brother / ‘Til man exists no more. ”
“Have no fear, little one… I am here to protect thee. ”
“Robert, I… I want… I need to see a psychiatrist. I… I have… fears. I have such fears.”
“Look, I want to know what he said. I have a right to know. Robert, I want to know what he said! Look, I’m not just some bystander. I was the one who found him!”
“His blood must be spilled on the altar of God.”
” I’m the one who’s supposed to kill him. These are knives. He wants me to stab him! He wants me to murder a child.”
“Excuse me, Mr President. When you’re ready to leave, your car is over there.”
Mike's Take On the Movies 
Jerry Goldsmith won his first Oscar for that score (I can still recall the live performance at the ceremony of the main theme with creepily-dressed dancers doing their thing) which was amusing because Bernard Herrmann also won his only Oscar for another great and devilish film, The Devil and Daniel Webster. Makes you wonder if some deals were made under the earthly table, as both composers had some stellar work before and after that that won nothing. Never trust Old Scratch, I say!
It’s a very memorable score and stays with you. Effectively chilling.