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Film

Something evil this way returns

By STEVE PERSALL
Published June 8, 2006

Thirty years ago, The Omen was the best of the post-Exorcist movies that involved creepy children under demonic influence. Director John Moore (Behind Enemy Lines) wisely sticks close to the source material for the R-rated remake that opened nationwide Tuesday, earning a fair share of goosebumps along the way.

The story involves U.S. ambassador Robert Thorn (Liev Scheiber, stepping into Gregory Peck's shoes), who realizes that the boy named Damien (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) being raised as his son is the Antichrist. That is what Robert gets for pulling one of those baby swap deals when his biological son died at birth. His wife, Katherine (Julia Stiles, not making anyone forget Lee Remick), is certain the little devil wants to kill her.

The new version doesn't tinker much with the original script; David Seltzer wrote both movies, a continuity of vision that is rare among remakes. Moore has no problem raising the violence quotient to modern standards while maintaining a signature scene from the 1976 version, as well as adding a sick-humor wrinkle to the fate of a nosy photojournalist (David Thewlis).

What is wrong with the remake? Chiefly that Davey-Fitzpatrick comes across as a pouting kid rather than Satan's spawn, and Stiles is too lightweight as a screen presence to transfer Katherine's fear to the audience. The Omen relies too often on sudden noises and flashy editing for scares, rather than the slow dread established by the original. However, Moore's version works better overall than you might expect. B

- STEVE PERSALL, Times film critic

[Last modified June 7, 2006, 10:22:01]