'The First Omen' review: Long-running horror series gets fresh rebirth

The "Omen" franchise gets an unexpected jumpstart with "The First Omen," a boundary-pushing legacy prequel slash series reboot that takes its subject matter — and its horror — quite seriously, and is all the better for it.

Director and co-writer Arkasha Stevenson sets her story in a world where the stakes are identifiable and the characters' motivations are clear and defined — not a big ask, but one where studio horror films often fall short. And within that framework, she creates several genuinely shocking moments, not cheap jump scares, which are what movies like these tend to generate, if anything at all.

Set in 1971, prior to the events of 1976's original "The Omen," Nell Tiger Free ("Servant") stars as Margaret Daino, an American who is recruited to work at an orphanage in Rome as she prepares to take her vows to become a nun. She's brought over by Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), a kind and saintly gentleman with that special Bill Nighy twinkle in his eye. How can you not trust Bill Nighy?

Margaret is warned of one bad apple in the group of youngsters, Carlita (Nicole Sorace), who is disturbed by dark thoughts and has the erratically scribbled drawings to prove it. She may be the key to a dark conspiracy within the Catholic Church involving no less than the birth of the antichrist, but Maggie soon learns that storyline is set to play out unnervingly close to home.

It's well worth noting that "The First Omen" plays out in shockingly similar fashion to "Immaculate," the Sydney Sweeney-starrer that is currently in theaters, so much so that the two movies could be sister acts. They're the "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon" of the demon birth realm, but while they're fighting for the same box office dollars, they play off of and compliment each other in provocative ways. Catch them both in a double feature — "First Omen" first, then "Immaculate" — and then go for a long walk and try to enjoy some sunlight.

Stevenson, in her feature directorial debut, stages several scenes of intense, physical body horror, including one that reportedly — and understandably — nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating. But the moment is earned, and it enriches the story, heightening the material in a manner that gives it a fiercely personal resonance.

"The First Omen" is the sixth "Omen," and it's the first entry in the series since a 2006 remake of the original. It sets itself up for more, but more so, it gives the story a reason to continue. Consider the series born again.

agraham@detroitnews.com

'The First Omen'

GRADE: B

Rated R: for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity

Running time: 120 minutes

In theaters