Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5411 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-06-04
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 317 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
In 1976 The Omen scored a hit with critics and audiences hungry for more after The Exorcist with its mixture of Gothic horror and mystery and its plot about a young boy suspected of being the personification of the anti-Christ. Directed by Richard Donner (best known for his Superman and Lethal Weapon films), The Omen gained a lot of credibility from the casting of Gregory Peck and Lee Remick as a distinguished American couple living in England, whose young son Damien bears "the mark of the beast". At a time when graphic gore had yet to dominate the horror genre, this film used its violence discreetly and to great effect and the mood of dread and potential death is masterfully maintained. It's all a bit contrived, with a lot of biblical portent and sensational fury but few would deny it's highly entertaining. Jerry Goldsmith's Oscar-winning score works wonders to enhance the movie's creepy atmosphere. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Damien: Omen II takes place several years after the mysterious events that claimed the life of the US Ambassador and his wife as the now teenaged and militarily enrolled Damien Thorne is slowly being made aware of his unholy heritage and horrific destiny. Woe is he (including anyone in Damien's adoptive family and his classmates) who suspects the truth or gets in his way. While not as unrelentingly frightening as its blockbuster predecessor, this more-than-competent sequel raises some interesting questions about the nature of free will (can the anti-Christ deny his birthright?) before falling into a gory series of increasingly outlandish deaths, the best of which is a terrifyingly protracted scene beneath the ice of a frozen lake. Jerry Goldsmith (who won an Oscar for his work on the first film in the series) contributes another marvellously foreboding score. --Andrew Wright, Amazon.com

The series concludes with The Omen III: The Final Conflict, starring Sam Neill as the adult Damien--aka the son of Satan--in a battle with the heavens for control of mankind. The film ends up depending more heavily on effects and spectacle than on the kind of basic horrors that made the first movie in the series so unsettling but at least this one gives some closure to the seemingly endless saga. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com

On the DVDs: On the original movie disc there is an all-new 45-minute documentary, "666: The Omen Revealed", with contributions from all the major behind-the-scenes players, including director, editor, screenwriter (who confesses the movie was only set in England because he wanted a free trip to London!), producer and composer. The latter, Jerry Goldsmith, has his Oscar-winning contribution to the movie recognised with a separate feature in which he talks through four key musical scenes in the score. There's also a thought-provoking short called "Curse or Coincidence?" in which the many bizarre accidents that happened during shooting are related, including the terrible story of what happened to the girlfriend of the man responsible for designing the decapitation scene. Director Richard Donner and editor Stuart Baird provide a chatty audio commentary to the movie. The second and third films lack as many extra features, being content with audio commentaries and theatrical trailers: the commentary for Omen II is by producer Harvey Bernhard, that for Omen III by director Graham Baker. --Mark Walker

Video Description
DVD Special Features:

Disc One - The Omen
Audio Commentary by Director Richard Donner
"666: The Omen Revealed" Documentary
"Curse or Coincidence" Featurette
4 Jerry Goldsmith Interview Clips
"The Omen" Trailer
Feature Running Time: 106 minutes
Language: English
Subtitles: Hard of Hearing English, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish
Original Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Widescreen 16 x 9)
Sound Quality: Dolby 2.0

Disc Two - Omen II
Audio Commentary by Producer Harvey Berhard
3 Theatrical Trailers
Feature Running Time: 102 minutes
Language: English
Subtitles: Hard of Hearing English, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish
Original Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Widescreen 16 x 9)
Sound Quality: Dolby 2.0

Disc Three - The Final Conflict Audio Commentary by Director Graham Baker
3 Theatrical Trailers
Feature Running Time: 103 minutes
Language: English
Subtitles: Czech, Danish, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish
Original Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Widescreen 16 x 9)
Sound Quality: Dolby 2.0

Synopsis
This suspenseful collection includes THE OMEN, DAMIEN - OMEN 2, and OMEN 3 - THE FINAL CONFLICT. In the original film, a wealthy diplomat learns that his adopted son, Damien, is the son of Satan. The sequels feature Damien maturing and coming to realise his heritage and his powers.

Customer Reviews

he bears the mark of the beast
wow i bought this on it day of release and i was really surprised by how truly amazing these films were. they flow into each ovther beautifully, have great soundtracks that really scare you and the actinbg is brilliant, every actor who plays damien (harvey stephens, jonathon scott-taylor and sam neill) plays him brilliantly, plus great acting performances by gregory peck, lee remick and william holden. the box set is really nice to, it opens up into the shape of a crucifix which the makers ave definetely spent time on, and there time has paid off well. buy it.

It's all for you, Damien!
A small decrease in standard as they progress doesn't alter the fact that the Omen trilogy is one of the darkest sagas I have ever seen. And now they have arrived (or are due to arrive) on DVD, I can't wait to buy it, as I see it an essential edition to my ever-growing DVD collection..... The first one, the Omen, is the best, with an American Diplomat (Gregory Peck) adopting a son (Damien) after the recent death of his newborn child, unknown to his wife who believes Damien to be her own. Mysterious deaths start occuring as surrounding friends and family begin to suspect and learn of the truth. The decapitation scene is particulary haunting. The best in the trilogy.

Damien: Omen II takes place seven years later when Damien is approaching his teens. He hasn't yet realised who he is but he discovers his destiny halfway through the film. Once again, unexplainable deaths start occuring but his new 'parents' - his aunt and uncle - refuse to believe what they hear. Watch out for the ice hockey event and the doctor in the lift....

The final film in the saga, The Final Conflict, brings about the final showdown between good and evil. Damien is now president of the company that he has inherited from his family; he discovers that a group of European priests have found the seven daggers which are the only thing on Earth which can destroy him. The film looks at the arrival of the second coming, and there's an unfortunate slaughter of baby boys late on in the film as Damien intends to kill him, a la King Herod. A particulary good scene is on the bridge during the hunt - two priests attempt to assassinate Damien but fail in their attempt.

In short, Omen trilogy is a great film for any fan of horror or the occult and I am glad it's finally coming out on DVD - I find it ironic they seemed to aim the release date for June the 6th, however the closest they seem to get is the 4th - is that just me? (For those of you not in the know, probably very little of you, Damien was supposed to have been born at 6 am on the sixth day of the sixth month - hence 666!)

CALLING ALL OMEN FANS...
This collection is one that all those who love gothic style thrillers will enjoy. It features the nineteen seventy six blockbuster, "The Omen" and its progeny.

THE OMEN - ***** STARS

This is the jewel in this collection. It is a first class, gothic thriller with an outstanding cast, a riveting story line, and a musical score that will make the viewer want to sleep with the lights on! A first rate film, it had audiences riveted to the screen when it was first released and has withstood the test of time, as it is as gripping today, as when it was first released.

David Seltzer wrote a terrific screenplay in which an older, affluent, and socially prominent couple, Kathy and Robert Thorn (Lee Remick and Gregory Peck), have a baby, whom they name Damien. The baby turns out to be the Anti-Christ, who ends up causing a lot of trouble. This first class production, which is deftly directed by Richard Donner, is played with straightforward sincerity by its outstanding cast.

The casting of Gregory Peck and Lee Remick was pure genius, as their distinguished reputations infused the movie with a believability not thought possible, given the theme of the script. Playing it straight, as a couple caught in a vortex of events over which they have little control, they sweep the viewer along with them. Supported by a fine cast, there are notable performances given by Billie Whitelaw, as the nanny with a mission, David Warner, as the photographer who begins to notice that something odd seems to be going on, and Harvey Stephens, as Damien, whose angelic countenance belies his satanic nature.

This is a riveting, subtle film that, with a few well planned, shocking moments, and an effectively creepy musical score that builds suspense to a crescendo, manages to thoroughly engage the viewer. If one is looking for a blood and gore fest, there is really none of that here. Instead, look to be scared out of the seat of your pants by a superb script, wonderful acting, deft direction, and a musical score that will long linger in one's memory. It is little wonder that Jerry Goldsmith, the composer of the original score for The Omen, won an Academy Award for his efforts.

DAMIEN: OMEN II - **** STARS

This sequel, released two years after the blockbuster success of "The Omen", is itself a stylish thriller. Featuring an excellent cast, it attempts to continue the momentum of the original. While having some shortcomings, the film, nonetheless, manages to entertain and shock. This is due in large part to its excellent cast and another chilling musical score by Jerry Goldsmith that is used to great effect.

This film continues the story begun in "The Omen". The Antichrist, Damien (Jonathan Scott Taylor), is here on earth and is now twelve, a little older and a little wiser to his true nature. Damien is being raised by his uncle, Richard Thorn (William Holden), and his second wife, Ann (Lee Grant).

William Holden and Lee Grant are terrific. With straightforward, sincere portrayals, they are the linchpins of this movie. Jonathan Scott Taylor is good as Damien but not particularly charismatic. Richard Foxworth and Lance Hendriksen, Damien's earthly sentinels, give well-nuanced performances. Old timer Lew Ayres is wonderful as the ethical business man, and Sylvia Sidney is terrific as the aunt who knows that there is something wrong with Damien. Lucas Donat is excellent as Damien's cousin Mark.

There is a surprising twist at the end of this film, which is sure to catch the viewer unawares. Still, that is not enough to make this sequel comparable to the original. It lacks the subtlety and deft direction of "The Omen". While the director, Don Taylor, does a competent job of directing this sequel, some of the scenes are heavy handed, giving in to special effects that detract from the film, rather than enhance it. The opening scene is a prime example of gratuitous excess. Less is sometimes more, something that the director, Don Taylor, should remember.

OMEN III: THE FINAL CONFLICT - *** STARS

This 1981 film is the second sequel to the outstanding, 1976 gothic thriller "The Omen". The Antichrist, Damien Thorn (Sam Neill), is now all grown up and, having inherited the entire Thorn family mega fortune, is now in the process of fulfilling both his destiny and a biblical prophecy of calamitous proportions. Unfortunately for him, however, his very existence is in jeopardy, as the second coming of Christ appears imminent.

Damien is kept busy in this film. As Ambassador to England, as well as spiritual leader to a denizen of devil worshippers, he is the target of an assassination plot by a group of priests led by Father DeCarlo (Rossano Brazzi). Damien keeps busy thwarting his would be assassins, usually by consigning them to a brutal demise. He also carries on a romance that ends badly. Damien is very much aware of who he is and where his destiny lies.

This is a relatively well acted film that suffers from a somewhat weak script. Sam Neill is well cast as the grownup Damien, giving a powerful performance. Rossano Brazzi is excellent as Father DeCarlo, the priest determined to end the stranglehold that the Antichrist has on the world. Composer Jerry Goldsmith contributes to the gothic atmosphere of the film with his chillingly creepy, musical score, just as he did in "The Omen" and in the first sequel. Due to its weak script, however, the film pales in comparison to its predecessors.