YMMV / The Omen (1976)

• Alternative Character Interpretation: Upon rewatching the original movie, Robert Thorn is a cold and distant father, which can raise two questions: is he this way towards Damien because Damien is a naturally unlovable child (just by nature of being the Antichrist), or is it because of the relationship between the father and the son that Damien is going to be more inclined towards becoming evil? Or is it because he's fully aware that Damien isn't even his son, not by birth at least, and there's something about that which is subconsciously making him act distant?
• Award Snub: While Jerry Goldsmith's music was an Oscar-winner for this film, some viewers think Gregory Peck should have been nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his gradually heartrending performance as The Woobie of a father Robert, while the film should have also granted a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Some viewers would also think Lee Remick and Billie Whitelaw should have also gotten nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress as well for their performances as The Woobie Broken Bird of a mother Katherine and the demonic babysitter Mrs. Baylock.
• Awesome Music:
  • The ominous and chilling "Ave Satani".
  • The entire score in general, composed by Jerry Goldsmith is one amazingly creepy cue after another. So good it won him an Academy Award.
• Critical Dissonance: Most critics panned the film when it was released. It was even among those featured in Harry Medved and Randy Dreyfus's book The Fifty Worst Films of All Time (And How They Got That Way). Nonetheless, it was a smash hit among audiences at the time and is seen as a modern horror classic.
• Memetic Mutation: The "Ave Satani" theme from the original film has frequently been used whenever someone wants to portray a character as The Antichrist or some other form of ultimate evil.
• Narm:
  • Father Brennan's death can come across as this. He has time to dodge the falling spike, but rather than move, he raises his hands, lets out a Big "NO!", and is impaled.
  • Father Brennan running toward the church with arms stretched out in front.
  • Katherine's fall, after Damien pushes her, hasn't aged well. The stunt has Lee Remick looking like she's hovering, rather than falling (all the while magically rotating 180 degrees so that she falls on her front), and the fact that Remick is pretending to fall and scream in faux-slow motion doesn't help.
  • Some of the reactions to the nanny hanging herself. One girl looks annoyed, two boys behind her look more surprised than horrified, and the clown looks mad that he isn't the center of the horror.
  • As awesome as "Ave Satani" is, the Latin lyrics contain many grammatical errors, which can be downright comical to those who actually understand the language.
• Questionable Casting: Gregory Peck was 59 years old during filming, which is way too old for a newly appointed ambassador with a prepubescent child (at that age, most diplomats are nearing retirement). For reference, most of the other actors considered to play Robert Thorne were in their 40s, a far more appropriate age for such a character.
• Reality Is Unrealistic: The tight closeup of the giraffe’s head looks like an animatronic fake, but is shown as quite real when the giraffes run away.
• Signature Scene: The nanny committing suicide by noose in front of Damien's party. "Look at me Damien... it's all for you!"
• Values Dissonance: That Katherine would need Robert's consent to have an abortion can be shocking to modern viewers.
• Vindicated by History: Dismissed at the time as simply another attempt to follow The Exorcist's leader (and to be fair, it clearly was conceived as that); it's nowadays considered on its own as a classic that stands by itself that, at most, is simply a very different take at the Creepy Child trope with its own ideas and some fantastic elements, particularly its creative deaths and iconic musical score. It's also nowadays still considered pretty gripping and scary (a couple of over-the-top moments notwithstanding).
• The Woobie: Both Robert and Katherine Thorn, all they wanted was a happy family life, only to be destroyed right before their eyes up to their deaths by the Antichrist.

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