Damien: Omen II (1978)

Director:

Don Taylor

Writers:

Harvey Bernhard (story)
David Seltzer (characters)

Release Date:

9 June 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The first time was only a warning.

Plot:

Damian the Antichrist, now age 13, finally learns of his destiny under the guidance of an unholy disciple of Satan, while dark mystical forces begin to eliminate all those who suspect the child's true identity.

Plot Keywords:

Attacked By Bird | Artifact | Devil Child | Teenager | Christian Horror

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

William Holden	...	Richard Thorn
Lee Grant	...	Ann Thorn
Jonathan Scott-Taylor	...	Damien Thorn
Robert Foxworth	...	Paul Buher
Nicholas Pryor	...	Charles Warren
Lew Ayres	...	Bill Atherton
Sylvia Sidney	...	Aunt Marion
Lance Henriksen	...	Sergeant Neff
Elizabeth Shepherd	...	Joan Hart
Lucas Donat	...	Mark Thorn
Allan Arbus	...	Pasarian (as Alan Arbus)
Fritz Ford	...	Murray
Meshach Taylor	...	Dr. Kane
John J. Newcombe	...	Teddy
John Charles Burns	...	Butler

Also Known As:

Omen II
Omen II: Damien (reissue title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Italy:VM14 | Canada:18A (video rating) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Canada:18A | Finland:K-18 | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

William Holden was the original choice to star in the first film, The Omen (1976), but turned it down as he did not want to star in a picture about the devil. Gregory Peck was selected as his replacement. "The Omen" went on to become a huge hit and Holden made sure he did not turn down the part in this sequel.

Goofs:

Continuity: The setting goes from fall to winter (with snow on the ground and a lake frozen over) back to what looks like early fall (leaves on trees just yellowing and the grass still green) several times in what is supposed to be a continuous 9 month period--one school year in the life of the titular character. In one scene, a major character dies in the snow surrounded by leafless trees. This is immediately followed by a scene at his funeral (which could only have been a couple of days later) back in early fall. Later, when Damien's Uncle is in New York City there's a thick blanket of snow on the ground and he is visibly cold, while back in Chicago, on what is supposed to be the same day, the trees are again covered by faintly yellowed leaves and the weather seems mild.

Quotes:

Ann Thorn: Charles, I heard about your reporter friend, what's her name?
Dr. Charles Warren: Joan Hart.
Ann Thorn: I'm so sorry.
Dr. Charles Warren: Yes, it's so strange. She got hit by a truck on a deserted highway.
Ann Thorn: I know.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "WKRP in Cincinnati: Young Master Carlson (#1.20)" (1979)

A must to see for anyone who liked THE OMEN.

This sequel to THE OMEN is a "fun" film. It continues the story of the anti-Christ Damien into his teenage years and his years in military school. Now adopted into the family of his father's brother, an unsuspecting Damien is unwittingly at the centre of a plot to bring Satan's son to the threshold of power. Everyone around him is at risk as the secret of Damien's birth is under threat of exposure by forces emerging from around the world - and at the root of this threat are the mad depictions painted on an ancient wall that reveal the very face of evil.

Jonathon Scott-Taylor gives a commanding and creepy performance as the ultimate misfit son. Looking particularly significant in his military outfit, Scott-Taylor captures - as much as the script allows him - the torment of self-discovery as the truth of his existence is revealed to him. The script could have demanded more from such a fascinating scenario, and tried to make Damien more of a Miltonic Satanic Hero, but the film chooses to go for as much shock value whenever it can. Mysterious and violent accidents - linked by the ever-present shadow of a raven of death - dominate this movie from beginning to end. The scene involving an ill-fated lady on a deserted country road is one of its most grotesque. As death and destruction mount, Damien goes from self-possessed orphan to self-recognized supreme power in the span of two hours.

William Holden and Lee Grant play Damien's surrogate parents, Richard and Ann Thorn. They are not really allowed to display their incredible talents in this film, but Holden does fine trying to duplicate Peck's memorable performance in the original. Grant does what she can with this supporting role, but has a great moment in the film that proves worthy to wait for. The always wonderful Sylvia Sidney makes a memorable appearance as one of Damien's greatest "thorns" - the troublemaking menace Aunt Marion. And the ending is a bit of a shock if you watch the film closely, particularly if you listen to the exposition early on in the film about "The Whore of Babylon."

Another highlight is Jerry Goldsmith's title score - empowering, commanding and downright evil, the opening score is one of my favorites.

Although not as creepy as the first film, DAMIEN: OMEN II has its moments, and is worth seeing for anyone who likes to have a fun time with all this biblical stuff.