June 6, 1976. At the Alexandria Theatre on Geary Blvd. A sneak preview with a film that had a laughable title- Mother, Jugs and Speed. The sneak peek was a film by Richard Donner entitled The Omen. The teaser ads were about a warning or being one day closer to the end of the world. It was supposed to be a horror movie. Hmmm....lights dim and the opening bars of Jerry Goldsmith score set the tone. Gregory Peck, Lee Remick- the film couldn't be that bad. Cute baby born in a Rome hospital- mother died giving birth; Lee Remick's character was giving birth, too, but coincidentally her child was stillborn. A priest convinces Gregory Peck's character to adopt it. He does and then, pardon, all hell breaks loose.
The child, Damien, is cute- almost horrifically cute. Strange things happen when this child is around. The first casualty is his nanny- commits suicide by hanging herself at his birthday. And that Rottweiler. The new Nanny, Mrs. Baylock, is evil personified. "I am here to protect thee," she intones upon meeting little Damien. Throughout the film, different characters are introduced and each one meets with a grisly demise. The audience, of course, was shocked. The final battle between Gregory Peck's character and Mrs. Baylock had everyone in the theatre at the edge of their seats. Popcorn has long been consumed, so no need to get a good grip. Oh, throughout the film, a priest and eventually a photographer try to convince Gregory Peck's character that the child is evil and must be destroyed. Even an exorcist living in Israel gives a warning and precisely how to kill this child.
So, with Halloween around the corner and you need a good scare, check out this now horror classic. The original. The Omen. Oh, did I forget to mention that little Damien is the anti-Christ?
