OMEN HOLIDAY
THE ORIGINAL DEMON SEED IS JETTING OFF TO ITALY FOR A R EVISIONIST PR EQUEL WITH AN INTRIGUING NEW TAKE. DIR ECTOR ARKASHA STEV ENSON AND ACTOR NELL TIGER FREE TEASE WHAT’S IN STOR E FOR THE FIRST OMEN
WORDS: STUART MANNING
wHEN YOU GO INTO A HORROR film, I think you’re prepared to be scared in a certain way. Well, this one is going to subvert that. For better or worse – it’s definitely not what you’re expecting. And that’ll rock your core even harder, in a weird sorta way.”
Director Arkasha Stevenson is choosing her words carefully as SFX sits down to discuss all things Omen. The OG Antichrist supernatural horror franchise is back in cinemas after an 18-year break, going back to its roots. But that’s all we’re getting in advance, as Stevenson and her female lead are keen to protect the film’s secrets.
The First Omen takes the story back to 1973 Rome, where an American girl, Margaret, joins a convent, bringing her into the orbit of a murky conspiracy to bring about the birth of Damien. “She has a troubled past and a quite tumultuous childhood and has found her steadiness in faith,” says Game Of Thrones actor Nell Tiger Free. “And, of course, that all begins to unravel…”
Stevenson, who cut her horror teeth on Netflix series Brand New Cherry Flavor, felt an immediate connection to the screenplay for The First Omen. “I fell in love with the character of Margaret. I was interested in doing a horror film that was more like a character study. That felt closest to how I had first watched The Omen, way back when – a story about a family going through horrible tumult. That’s maybe not the most typical pitch to give a studio, but they were very into it.”