Of all the films ever made, this is easily one of the most notorious. If for no other reason than all the freak accidents that occurred during the film's production; cast and crew members fell in danger, and a few passed away, from plane crashes and car accidents throughout the production period. It makes one wonder whether there was a curse of some kind surrounding the film.
Regardless, it was a success in its day, and continues to resonate. It is most memorable for the freaky deaths it shows on screen (something of a progenitor to the Final Destination films; there are a few scenes in The Omen where some small or freakish thing causes another thing to maim, impale, or decapitate the hapless characters). In between these scenes, the film takes on a slow pace, and uses all its breathing room to let the story and narrative flow.
Despite its pace, the film manages to maintain interest (and maintain tension) through its story. It does a phenomenal job at taking the core theological concept and weaving a tale out of it: a tale that feels plausible and realistic. In spite of that, it really instills the fear in the viewer; the on-screen deaths and the off-screen implications help build the tension and dread in the audience on a psychological level, and that makes it very effective as a horror story. It helps that the story and characters are thoughtfully developed.
This film looks really classy, with decent photography and editing. Acting is great; Gregory Peck is impeccable, and everybody fulfills their roles well. Writing is strong. This production has adequate and real-looking sets, props, costumes, and locales. Music is epic!
4.5/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good)
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