At the beginning of The Omen, Katherine Thorn does not know that her newborn son is dead. Because his wife is still grieving from an earlier miscarriage, Robert Thorn makes an agonizing decision to hide the truth from Katherine by presenting her with another baby, one whose mother has died. This child has been given to the Thorns by Father Spilleto. 

Later, Robert (Liev Schreiber) and Katherine (Julia Stiles) move to England with their son Damien (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatick) after Robert has been appointed U.S. ambassador to that country. While Damien is celebrating his fifth birthday at an elaborate outdoor party there, his nanny hangs herself in front of partygoers and horrified parents.

Naturally, Robert has to deal with reporters and photographers who converge upon his office building the next day. As Robert brushes by them, he bumps into Keith Jennings (David Thewlis), breaking his camera. Robert asks  Jennings to submit an invoice for repairs. 

At this point, Father Brennan (Pete Postlethwaite) arrives unannouned at the office and stresses the importance of being seen. He was present at Damien’s birth and has dire warnings for Robert, who cannot understand the priest’s delusions. Robert summons security to escort Father Brennan out of his office.

Mrs. Baylock (Mia Farrow), who loves children and has a sweet disposition and sing-song voice, seems like a modern Mary Poppins. Although not slated to meet with Robert and Katherine, she produces a resume nobody could object to.  Even without meeting Damien, she's instantly protective of him and quick to argue with his mother. She insists that  Damien would never grasp religious teachings or sermons and should attend church. Katherine has no time to argue with a nanny who has just arrived, so she tells her that Damien had better be dressed and ready to go in five minutes or Mrs. Baylock will suffer her wrath.

Damien looks increasingly sickly -- and appears statue-like until he shrieks loudly and claws around the car. The Thorns decide to head back home. Father Brennan has contacted Robert yet again. He tells Robert that Katherine is in great danger, so he must comply with a meeting. But Robert makes it clear to the priest that he never wants to see or hear from him again.

Katherine is not used to living in a new country. She has friends back home for support but none in England. For some reason, she's developed a deep resentment toward Damien and a mounting fear of him. Damien cannot even play or make any noise without Katherine wanting him removed from the room. Katherine is pregnant again, which -- combined with her fears -- wreaks havoc on her mind.

SPOILER ALERT

The film's suspense builds with a series of strange events. Katherine mysteriously falls from a staircase at home. Father Brennan is killed in a freak accident during a lightning storm. A lightning rod fell off a church roof and tore through his body. Prior to being killed, the priest had plastered pages upon pages of the bible as wallpaper around his room. He seemed to know he was to die soon and was looking for Christ's forgiveness. He also knew Thorn's coming and goings and kept them documented in a diary. Could there be truth to his warnings? And Jennings is startled when he discovers something strange in photos he took of the Thorns and people connected to them. It seems that whatever was in the photos indicated an upcoming death.

Bugenhagen (Michael Gambon), an archaeologist, is the only one who knows Damien’s true origin. Will Robert listen to him and turn against the child? Is Damien the Anti-Christ? Could Armageddon be upon us? 

As directed by John Moore, The Omen emerges as a near mirror image of the 1976 Richard Donner film starring Gregory Peck and Lee Remick, but there are subtle differences. For example, Moore intentionally made Katherine and Robert younger to give a sense of all they had, were gaining, and stand to loose because of Damien.

There are several solid acting turns here. Farrow, Stiles and newcomer Fitzpatrick all stand out. However, although he delivers a strong performance, Schreiber cannot match Gregory Peck in the original film. All things considered, The Omen is a chilling film that's bound to frighten and entertain most viewers.

(Released by Twentieth Century Fox and rated "R" for disturbing violent content, graphic images and some language.)

Review also posted on www.movie-critiques.com.