The First Omen is a prequel to the classic horror franchise that started with 1976’s The Omen directed by Richard Donner. The film was horror gold standard for the 70s. After which the IP has continued as a franchise in various sequels, reboots, and now a prequel — The First Omen, directed by Arkasha Stevenson. The film focuses on a woman starting to question her own faith when she uncovers a terrifying conspiracy to bring about the birth of evil incarnate in Rome. The early reviews and reactions of the film are out today there is no review that doesn’t call this film one of the best horror films in years with special mention about Nell Tiger Free’s amazing performance. Read the reviews below:
The First Omen Reviews: You’d Be Blown Away!
Mary Beth McAndrews (Dread Central) – “THE FIRST OMEN stunned me. An incredibly thoughtful and shattering look at sexual assault in the Catholic Church while also providing the tension of the original film. This is the religious horror I’ve been waiting for. Exquisitely repulsive. Also 10/10 Possession homage.”
Richard Whittaker (Austin Chronicle) – “Holy Hell. I’d expect a horror this unrepentantly ghoulish from a small studio, not 20th Century. Graphic, grisly, and with a protracted homage to Possession.”
Germain Lussier (Gizmodo) – “The First Omen is pretty solid. Gory, intense, a nice little mystery in there too. It also weaves its way into the original in ways both expected and not. It’s a little uneven and predictable but when it hits, it hits hard. Not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.”
Joseph Deckelmeier (Screen Rant) – “The 1976 version of The Omen had some chilling & controversial scenes, and #TheFirstOmen raises the bar. The film is a worthy prequel to the original. The First Omen is creepy, eerie, and unsettling. There’s one scene in particular that is bound to have people talking.”
Sarah Musnicky – “The entire cast is wholly committed here, but Nell Tiger Free commands the screen. The physicality she taps into in THE FIRST OMEN is visceral. What is most damning – for better or worse – is how timely and timeless the overarching motivation is here for the horror.”
Tessa Smith (Mama’s Geeky) – “The First Omen welcomes horror fans back to this chilling world right from the start! Wish it leaned more into its R-rating but when it brings the gore, it BRINGS THE GORE! Nell Tiger Free takes viewers on a journey with her that’ll have you questioning everything.”
Jeff Ewing – “WELL. THE FIRST OMEN is the real deal. Terrifying, a tremendous performance by Nell Tiger Free, and some of the best horror cinematography I’ve seen in a long time. Many scenes and choices were truly inspired. Absolutely dug it.”
Shannon McGrew (Nightmarish Conjuring) – “THE FIRST OMEN isn’t here to play nice. It isn’t here to put you at ease. It here’s to open your eyes to the pain, anguish, and despair women feel at the hands of religion and its grotesque hold over our bodies. It’s one hell of a doozy! Get ready!”
Jazz Tangcay (Variety) – “Did not expect much from The First Omen, but it’s a well-worthy prequel to Richard Donner’s 1976 classic. Great sound design and cinematography. And it’s got some bloody good scary moments.”
Mike Ryan (Uproxx) – “So, I’m a big fan of Arkasha Stevenson’s THE FIRST OMEN. I truly *love* the first three Omen movies and I *love* how this one ends right at the beginning of Richard Donner’s 1976 THE OMEN. It’s the ROGUE ONE of Omen movies.”
Jamie Jirak (ComicBook) –“I enjoyed #TheFirstOmen, which won me over in the third act. There’s one gory moment that’s gonna STICK WITH ME. You don’t have to see the OG to get it, but I do wish I had revisited it first because there are some deep connections. Nell Tiger Free is a killer lead!”
The First Omen will release in theatres on April 5th, 2024.
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