Rish Outfield's reviews
The Omen was one of the best horror movies I've ever seen. This, a tepid 90's remake (the fourth film in the Omen Trilogy--yeah, I know.) isn't. Was this actually theatrically released?
V's Faye Grant stars as the hopeful mother who adopts a baby girl from a convent, only to find something unholy about the child, who they name Delia. What follows is a slow and scare-free almost-remake of the original Omen (even playing Jerry Goldsmith's "Ave Satani" from time to time), as Delia exhibits strange behavior and those around her exhibit strange deaths. She becomes suspicious and tries to find out the truth about her malevolent new kid. But everything is done so poorly that it was almost torturous to watch. It was pretty lame, folks. It was only 97 minutes, but excruciatingly long. In my notes, I found ‘phrases' like: Holy poop. I laughed. I fear babies. Silly music video. Martin Fuhrer. Off-screen beheading. If tyranist ever had a daughter, I imagine she might be like Delia. Or not. "The Bible didn't mean to be sexist," a nun says at one point during this film, explaining that the Antichrist could be female, not just male. There were a lot of stupid Catholics running around throughout, and even stupider New Agers. Come on, pick a religion and go with it (in the first films at least SOME of the religious people were intelligent). In a scene so awful I can't describe it, the New Age dorks can ‘sense' something wrong with Delia's aura. The babysitter knows she's evil, but still hangs around, even going places with the child.
Produced by Mace Neufield, who did the other three "Omen" films, as well as the non-Horror Jack Ryan trilogy, I'm sure this is one he constantly regrets and occasionally denies making. I figured this had to be a Canadian production, as there was something mildly unpleasant about the whole thing, and by the fact that even when it's supposed to be summer, you can see peoples' breath. It starred the world's ugliest kid as Delia, Satan's little girl. The Damienette was played by Asia Viera, in an obvious move of typecasting. She has the blackest eyes, truly windows of her hellish little soul. Here's a spoiler: she turns out to be not only Damien Thorn's daughter, but also his sister. And also his mother. I kid you not.
You know, once Faye Grant hires a private eye to investigate Delia's origin, the movie actually gets better. It all ends almost exactly the same way the original Omen did. The last few minutes aren't so bad, really, but they don't make up for the awful first hour and a half.
Best Scare: The scene with the snakes. Indy Jones would be peeing his pants.
Note: When I heard the recent DVD boxed set was the only way to get this film, I thought, "Wow, it must be something special." When in actuality, they HAVE to give it away, as they wisely know no one will buy it.