4K RESTORATION!
“From the eternal sea he rises, creating armies on either shore, / Turning man against his brother, ’til man exists no more.”
When a childbirth tragedy strikes the family of an American diplomat and his wife (Gregory Peck and Lee Remick), a secret deal is struck with some shady Italians: a child is furnished for the empty bassinet, and not too many questions are asked. Until a few years later, when little malefic Damien becomes the centre of a vortex of horrors, and “accident” after “accident” seems to pave the path for his meteoric rise to power and humanity’s ultimate doom. When dog attacks proliferate, birthday parties culminate in grisly hangings, and satanic choirs chant their asses off, can Gregory Peck (and a delightfully expositive David Warner!) save humanity from the rising apocalypse?
A delightfully ghoulish and campy riff on seventies America’s fever-pitch Satanic panic and apocalyptic furor, The Omen was rigorously bashed by critics on release – only to find an enthusiastic audience and several trophies, including a much-deserved Oscar for Jerry Goldsmith’s singular and epochal music. The Omen remains a major influence not just in horror, but in real-world religious belief, bringing to the pop culture forefront our modern obsession with “666”, and the lurking Antichrist. The film’s great fear – do you know what your children are? – remains a powerful touchstone in the bad seed genre and opens itself to many queer readings, as a stalwart Peck wrestles with his love of his child and the religious dogma that insists he is demonic.
Join queer film and horror enthusiasts alike this Halloween season in Toronto for THE OMEN – with satanic panic video preshow, host Anthony Oliveira, live performance, and cocktails by the Shameful Tiki Room!