Headlined by Nell Tiger Free, makes for a wonderfully-twisted origin story to welcome one of the horror genre’s most famous antagonists

The First Omen Arkasha Stevenson Nell Tiger Free, Sônia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy, Tawfeek Barhom An American woman sent to work at a church in Rome uncovers a conspiracy and learns how she’s also a part of it

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Storyline: the new gen has “rejected authority” and lost faith in the concept of institutions including the church. What troubles Margaret more are the horrific visions she has been getting over the years that led to a troubled childhood. She sees herself in Carlita (Nicole Sorace), one of the older children of the Vizzardeli Orphanage where Margaret is set to take her vows. Margaret spots a series of weird happenings which are answered when she meets Father Brennan, and in the quest to uncover the secrets guarded within those in the orphanage, she ends up finding a lot about herself.

What sets The First Omen apart from other horror franchise prequels is how it works as a standalone flick and not just as an introduction to the lore of the series. Though we already know that the film ends with the birth of Damien, as The Omen starts with the Thorn family adopting the newborn, director Arkasha Stevenson does a neat job of sensitising the concept of childbirth.

Stevenson, understanding her assignment, neither dwells deep into the myth and religion nor does she swamp us with too much exposition; she instead revels in making the audience feel unsettled, a zone the film thrives in. With the perfect dose of newage grotesqueness and hattips to some of the best kills from the aged franchise, an array of scares come our way. Remember the “It’s all for you” scene from The Omen? The First

Omen features a character taking her own life in the same manner. Father Brennan who meets his fate in the 1976 film sees another man of faith having a similar end in The First Omen. Throw into the equation some monsters behind curtains, women getting wrapped with black veils before being turned into a conduit, and shots of horrific artwork that adorn the walls, and we have a jolly number of tropes to thrill horror film lovers instead of the usual jump scares and fast camera movements.

You know a horror film that hits the shores of our country is good when the scares work despite getting mercilessly chopped in the name of censorship. Nevertheless, thanks to a fantastic plot and a brilliant Nell Tiger Free, The First Omen breathes life into a legendary yet battered franchise.

The First Omen is currently running in theatres