NEW Omen-collection - Omen-collection (Blu-ray)

1976's "The Omen" is the first and best of the series. I think it is better than the grossly overrated "The Exorcist", as this one has a more disturbing and realistic plot line. Robert and Kathy Thorn (Gregory Peck and Lee Remick) are an English governmnet official and his wife have given birth to a stillborn child. Kathy doens't know, so Robert adopts one and passes it off as the dead baby. Baby Damien becomes the light of their life. Then when he turns 5, eerie stuff begins to happen. First, his nanny commits suicide. Then a priest comes to see Thorn at his ofice and urges him to kill his son, saying he's the Antichrist, the son of Satan. Soon, a rapid - fire series of coincidences resulting in the deaths of people around Damien make Robert grwo suspicous. He and a photographer David Warner investigate. But it isn't until Warner is killed (in one of the best movie deaths ever) that Robert realizes the truth.

This is a great horror movie. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick turn in their best latter - day performances and prove that there was a place for aging screen vets in Hollywood other than tv movies and "That's Entertainment". Jerry Goldsmith's chilling score is the best I've ever heard in a horror film and he deserved the Oscar he won for it. Extras are several excellent documentaries, trailers and audio commentaries.

1978's "Damien: Omen 2" takes place 7 years later. Damine is now 12 years old, living with his aunt and uncle (Lee Grant and William Holden). This sequel marks a turning point in the series, as Damien is now aware of who he really is. At first, he's scared but soon grows to enjoy them.

This film is lesser than the first one but provides some genuine jitters, especially the "Designing Women" guy stuck in the elevator and the frightening ending. Also, Holden and Grant turn in excllent performances.

"Omen III: The Final Conflict" is where the series really began to slip. Damien (Sam Neil) is now 32 years old and is intent on world dominaton. Whn he soon realizes Christ is coming back for the final battle between good and evil, he soon becomes more ruthlss than ever, going as far as to kill infants. This made me sick. The only thing I liked in this one was that it had a happy ending. The acting is wooden. It's hard to believe that a 5 - year old (the first one's Harvey Stevens) can do Damien better than Sam Neil. Fortunately, Neil found his voice and became one of the most versatile (and well - known) character actors ever. The only thing here other than the acting is another spooky Jerry Goldsmith score.

"Omen IV: The Awakening" tried teribly to resurrect the series. Karen and Gene York adopt a baby and the same things that happen in the first one happen here, only here it stinks. That's all I have to say about this movie.

Overall, a good boxed set of classic horror movies that will scare you to death. The first two are worth watching but the last two are horrible. Best to get the first two separately.