The First Omen: A Promising Prequel in the World of Supernatural Horror

The Promise of The First Omen

The First Omen's earliest trailer shows promise, offering a refreshing take on the supernatural horror genre. Unlike recent disastrous horror legacy follow-ups, The First Omen is set to avoid the pitfalls of reboots and sequels by introducing an intriguing storyline that hints at an unknowable evil lurking in the shadows.

A burning altar from The First Omen

The plot of The First Omen follows the story of a young woman sent to Rome to work for the church, where she uncovers a creepy conspiracy to bring about the birth of the Antichrist. This prequel intertwines elements from The Nun movies, Dario Argento’s classic Suspiria, and the original Omen, offering a significant departure from the premise of the original movie. With a potential to beat recent legacy horror sequels, The First Omen sets itself apart with its promising narrative and approach to supernatural horror.

A nun lies on the ground in the shape of a cross as others walk past her in The First Omen trailer

A Contrast to The Exorcist: Believer

In contrast to 2023's The Exorcist: Believer, The First Omen takes a different approach as a prequel, avoiding comparisons with its famous predecessor. The Exorcist: Believer, set decades after the original movie, disappointed viewers by not centralizing the original movie's heroines in its storyline. The First Omen's trailer, devoid of nods to the original movie, promises to stand on its own merits, steering clear of excessive reliance on nostalgia.

A creepy smiling woman in The First Omen

By transplanting the franchise’s setting from America to Italy, replacing its contemporary period with an atmospheric earlier time, and introducing a new heroine, The First Omen establishes itself as an extension of the Omen universe rather than a continuation of an existing story. This departure from the sequel's approach makes The First Omen even more appealing, as it prioritizes a fresh narrative over nostalgic callbacks.

Custom image of a nun beside a small baby in The First Omen trailer

The Advantage of Being a Prequel

Set before the original movie, The First Omen distinguishes itself by focusing on the story of a young woman rather than a middle-aged father and presenting a different perspective on the Antichrist's birth. By starting before the birth of the Antichrist, The First Omen guarantees a unique and refreshing take, ensuring that it feels less like its predecessor and stands out as a distinct addition to the Omen universe.

The Omen - Gregory Peck with Damien in the safari zoo

The First Omen's new story sets it apart from The Omen, offering a different angle to the iconic horror franchise. With a plot that diverges from the original movie, The First Omen promises to captivate audiences with its fresh and distinctive narrative, setting the stage for a compelling prequel to The Omen.

Damien standing near crosses in The Omen

Learning from The Exorcist: Believer

The First Omen can learn from The Exorcist: Believer by prioritizing serious scares over the franchise’s lore. While The Exorcist: Believer focused on cross-faith councils and demonic presence, The First Omen has the advantage of tapping into the original Exorcist's terrifying moments. With the potential to outdo the original movie in terms of scare factor, The First Omen aims to deliver an intense and genuinely chilling experience that resonates with audiences.

Olivia O’Neill as Katherine in Bed in The Exorcist Believer

By drawing inspiration from the elements that made the original Exorcist a timeless horror classic, The First Omen strives to create a truly hair-raising and memorable prequel that surpasses its predecessor in delivering spine-tingling scares and supernatural suspense.