REVIEW: ‘The First Omen’ is fine, but not phenomenal

There are a few directions a classic horror film can go to build a franchise. One is a series of sequels, another is a remake, and a third option is a prequel. “The Omen” has already done the first two, so a prequel it is.

“The First Omen” is set in 1971, five years before the events of the original 1976 film. The movie centers on Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free), an American woman who arrives in Italy to take her vows and become a nun. While she’s initially eager about the opportunity, she slowly becomes wary.

She starts to see suspicious and disturbing things taking place at the religious orphanage and church she lives at, and it becomes more frequent. Her fears are only heightened when she receives a dire warning from the priest Father Brennan (Ralph Ineson).

As a prequel  “The First Omen” is alright. It’s refreshing to see a follow-up to a legacy franchise that isn’t just going over the same road, like the forgettable remake from 2006 did. It gives audiences something completely different than the scary demon spawn little kid route.

This time around, the film is a mystery where the protagonist, a young woman strong in her faith, has to discover what the people she’s meant to trust are doing behind closed doors. It’s intriguing watching the conspiracy unravel as Margaret uncovers the truth with frightening results.

While the story at play is a welcome shift, though, the film still manages to build out the “Omen” universe and smoothly lead into the first film. It thankfully does so without overloading on nostalgic callbacks outside of a couple short scenes.

But while the movie fits nicely into “The Omen” franchise as a prequel, as a horror movie, it’s just above average. A tough factor for this picture is that it came out just a short while after another, very similar film, “Immaculate.” Both are about equal in terms of quality, but “Immaculate” has the edge for being a bit more intense.

Don’t get it twisted, there’s definitely some disturbing imagery in “First Omen” and it offers an unsettling atmosphere in many places. However, some weak jump scares weaken the effort, as does a pretty noticeable misdirect the picture is trying to set up.

The movie also loses some momentum in the second half, with the storytelling getting a bit clunky. At nearly two hours, the film could use some trimming and tightening for a more efficient horror experience. It doesn’t help that the film’s finale didn’t hit as strong as one would hope.

To the film’s credit, though, it features a solid performance from Nell Tiger Free. This marks her first major starring role and her portrayal of an aspiring, hopeful woman who’s met with a dark destiny works for the most part. Ralph Ineson, who has a distinct, authoritative voice, is also a highlight.

As part of a franchise, “The First Omen” manages to bring a new story that expands the lore and connects to the next film without retreading too much old ground. As a new entry in the horror genre, it’s not too bad either. It’s properly atmospheric and the cast is good, although the structure could have used some work and the ending needed more of an impact. 3.1 out of 5.