Immerse in the chilling narrative of The First Omen as it descends upon Philippine cinemas next week, April 5. This highly anticipated installment of the famed Omen franchise promises to send shivers and captivate audiences once again with its gripping storyline, rich lore, and spine-tingling thrills.
The First Omen stars Nell Tiger Free, Tawfeek Barhom, Sonia Braga, Ralph Ineson, with Charles Dance, and Bill Nighy, and is directed by Arkasha Stevenson. Set in 1971, the new Omen chapter, which serves as both a prequel and a standalone masterpiece, follows Margaret, a young American woman who is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church. There, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of an evil incarnate.
Building upon the ominous legacy of the iconic Omen series, The First Omen transports movie-goers back to the very beginning, exploring the roots of the petrifying prophecy that foretells the rise of the Antichrist.
The Classic Religious Horror Makes Way for the Genesis
The First Omen, acting as the prequel, now puts a spotlight on the mother of the Antichrist, a clear transition from the franchise’s previous focus on the Antichrist Damien. What mysteries will it finally put to end?
There are clear shifts from the known origins of Damien from The Omen (1976) as this time, the prequel shows the birth of the evil incarnate manifested through a human mother, instead of a jackal once known as Maria Scianna. In the earlier movies, there was also little to no mention as to why and how the mother was chosen to birth Damien. Churning in more fear into the story, The First Omen will further shed light on the events of 1971 that brought forth the Antichrist through the eyes of the protagonist, Margaret, a novitiate who was sent to Rome.
Screenshot from 20th Century Studios/YouTube
As a long-awaited origin story to the Omen franchise, The First Omen will unpack the enigma surrounding the Antichrist, leveraging pivotal plot elements and themes from its predecessors and offering viewers a fresh perspective on the sinister universe they have come to know and fear.
“Fans of ‘The Omen’ will have a field day,” shares Nighy, who plays Cardinal Lawrence, “because there are so many references they will pick up on and know. It will be intriguing for them to know how certain characters develop, what happens, knowing their future, et cetera. There are plenty of thrills, horror, and suspense, but they will be able to trace, from this movie, the futures into the later four parts of the story, which is especially exciting.”
Gather the barkada and witness the birth of evil as The First Omen opens in theaters nationwide on April 5. Follow 20th Century Studios on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube for more updates.
