The First Omen (2024) Review: A Prequel That Actually Works

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A review and thoughts on the horror movie 'The First Omen'

The First Omen is a 2024 American supernatural horror film directed by Arkasha Stevenson, and the cast includes Nell Tiger Free, Tawfeek Barhom, Sônia Braga, Ralph Ineson, and Bill Nighy.

My Thoughts On The First Omen

Prequels have a habit of answering questions no one was really asking, and horror franchises are especially guilty of stretching ideas thin, and as a fan of the franchise, I wanted to see whether this would justify its existence or simply repeat familiar imagery with a new coat of paint.

The First Omen doesn’t rely on obvious references to earn approval, as it takes it time with a seriousness to it where the filmmakers have clearly spent time thinking about how belief systems are formed and how people become trapped inside them.

It handles the subject of religion care, where it doesn’t turn faith itself into a villain, as the danger here comes from rigid thinking and fear-driven devotion, not belief as a whole, and that distinction matters.

The horror itself is more about mood than spectacle, where there are moments of violence, but they’re not thrown in carelessly, and a lot of the tension comes from what’s implied rather than what’s shown.

There are scenes where the atmosphere did most of the work, using silence, framing, and pacing to create the unease, and while that approach won’t work for everyone, but for me it felt appropriate for this story.

Nell Tiger Free’s performance as Margaret is a huge part of why the film works it has to be said, where there’s a quietness to her performance that draws you in, and where she doesn’t overplay fear or confusion, so as the story unfolds, you can see the weight of what she’s experiencing settling in, bit by bit.

Arkasha Stevenson’s direction should be applauded as well, as she shows a clear understanding of tone, where the film feels connected to the original Omen without being in your face, and there’s a similar sense of dread and inevitability, but it’s filtered through a different perspective.

And then we have the ending, which seems to be the most divisive part of the film, and I can see why, but personally, I found it effective, and, even though it clearly sets the stage for what’s to come, I am not sure a follow-up is necessary, but it’s obvious that the door has been left open.

I have seen The First Omen compared to Immaculate, and while I understand the surface-level similarities, I didn’t think the comparison held up for long.

This film feels more focused and confident in what it’s trying to say, and it’s also more restrained, which worked in its favor. I’d also place Heretic above both when it comes to exploring religious themes in horror this year, but that’s a separate conversation.

And while you don’t need an encyclopedic knowledge of the franchise to follow what’s happening, having familiarity with the original Omen is recommended, as certain details and themes will resonate more deeply when you understand where the story is heading.

And while the pacing at times could have been better, I have to say The First Omen is thoughtful, well-acted, and confident in its approach, and for a franchise entry that that could easily have gone very wrong like so many before, I rather enjoyed it.


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