The Vatican has discovered the beginnings of the apocalypse, as current events fall in line with the Bible’s Book of Revelation. With destructive storms, wars and demonic signs everywhere, the end of mankind appears near.
American ambassador Robert Thorn (Liev Schreiber) did something less than truthful when his wife gave birth. His own child did not survive but the doctor had a replacement, a baby boy whose mother died while giving birth. Robert made a decision which would inevitably haunt him for the rest of his life.
Five years later, Robert and his family -- Katherine (Julia Stiles) and son Damien (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) -- are living a happy life in England. But of course, danger lurks nearby. The Thorns begin to notice something unsettling about Damien. Out of the blue, his nanny commits suicide at his birthday party and Robert receives warnings from numerous sources of what is approaching.
Father Brennan (Pete Postlethwaite), a priest who has followed the Thorns, warns Robert that his son is not normal. Brennan declares that Damien is the spawn of the devil and needs to be dealt with accordingly: Death by ceremonial stabbing at the tender age of 5.
Robert refuses to believe that Damien is evil incarnate, but the warnings lead him to question what he did by taking in the replacement baby.
It’s great to see that “The Omen” has better special effects and the tie-in to the present day is poignant, but there is nothing new here. The dialogue and plot-line, even the names of the characters, all basically mirror the original.
Like Gus Van Sant’s remake Alfred Hitchcock’s classic “Psycho,” a new version of “The Omen” is superfluous.
Moore’s rendering lacks the ominous feeling and suspense of the original. And the scare factor is low. There is a single moment in this two-hour movie that is somewhat terrifying, but that's it.
Maybe in the 1970s “The Omen” made parents take a second look at their troublesome children in fear that the devil really does live, but the 2006 version won’t make anyone blink. The early Damien (Harvey Stephens) maintained a hint of innocence, which made his being the face of evil hard to believe. Davey-Fitzpatrick’s Damien, instead, has an ever-present scowl on his face and really just needs a little discipline.
By far, the most captivating part of “The Omen” is Mia Farrow -- Rosemary herself -- as Damien worshipper slash nanny, Mrs. Baylock. But even she’s not worth the price of admission.
Go out and rent the 1976 version of “The Omen” if you feel the urge to celebrate 666 and the day of the devil. You’ll be less disappointed.
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
