Replying to The Omen - A Review and Commentary

I would like to start and say that there are spoilers in here so don't read this if you're going to see it and don't want me to ruin it for you.

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This evening I took a date out to see The Omen. And honostly I'm having mixed emotions about the movie. It was enjoyable but overall I was a little disappointed.

-The High Points-
There were quite a few "out of no where" surprises that were quite scarey. My date I did actually jump when the dogs came while Thorn and the Photographer were in the cemetary. The imagery is pretty good, especially in the dream sequences. I was disturbed quite a few times. I'd say the best scene in the entire film was when Mrs. Baylock killed Katherine. It was quite a slow and emotionally traumatic death. I will say that the writers did an excelent job encorporating modern current events into the story. The star falling from the sky = Columbia crash. Great flood that kills 200,000 people = Pacific Tsunami etc.

-The Low Points-
Ok there are quite a few that stick out in my mind. First and foremost, did anyone else find the subplots to be extremely confusing? I was left asking myself these questions:

1) What did that weird priest have anything to do with the story besides warning Thorn? Like he was present when Damien was born or something. And practically stalked Thorn. He also said that when Kathrine was pregnant again that the baby was important. Well Damien succeeded in killing the baby... ok then what? And why did he have the 666 birthmark as well?

2) What the fuck is up with the t-rex skeleton in Damiens mothers grave? I guess the nurses at the hospital didn't notice they were helping a reptile give birth.

3) Why would the people at the hospital kill Thorn's real son? Whats the motive? And why would they want to swap him for Damien.

-Conclusion-
The beginning was a little slow but it picked up. I really think the movie need ed to be longer to explain things. Other than the whole basic anti-christ/armagedon plot line i was pretty confused. Perhaps I'm just an idiot and some of you can help to explain what I missed.

-Ratings-

Plot: C
Scariness: B
Disturbing Images: B+
Acting: B
Overall: B-