The Final Conflict (1981)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Graham Baker

Writers:

David Seltzer (characters)
Andrew Birkin (written by)

Release Date:

20 March 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The power of evil is no longer in the hands of a child.

Plot:

The now adult Antichrist plots to eliminate his future divine opponent while a cabal of monks plot to stop him.

Plot Keywords:

Monk | Dagger | Angel | Antichrist | Second Coming

Cast

Sam Neill	...	Damien Thorn
Rossano Brazzi	...	DeCarlo
Don Gordon	...	Dean
Lisa Harrow	...	Kate Reynolds
Barnaby Holm	...	Peter
Mason Adams	...	President
Robert Arden	...	American Ambassador
Leueen Willoughby	...	Barbara
Marc Boyle	...	Brother Benito
Milos Kirek	...	Brother Martin
Tommy Duggan	...	Brother Mattius
Louis Mahoney	...	Brother Paulo
Richard Oldfield	...	Brother Simeon
Tony Vogel	...	Brother Antonio
Arwen Holm	...	Carol

Also Known As:

Omen III: The Final Conflict
The Ill Omen (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | South Korea:18 | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Eagle River, Wisconsin, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Richard Donner had once considered directing the film, but was involved with legal problems involving the Salkind brothers stemming from Superman II (1980).

Goofs:

Plot holes: Damien's introduction for the "World in Focus" show states that he took over Thorn Industries in 1971 and that he has been running it for seven years. However, his earlier conversation with the President established the current year as 1982 not 1978.

Quotes:

Damien Thorn: "And it shall come to pass that in the end days the beast shall reign 100 score and 30 days and nights. And the faithful shall cry unto the Lord, 'Wherefore art thou in the day of evil?' And the Lord shall hear their prayers. And out of the Angel Isle he shall bring forth the Deliverer; the holy Lamb of God who shall do battle with the beast. And shall distroy him." Only it won't be the beast that is destroyed, it'll be the Nazarene.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Empire of the Censors (1995) (TV)

Sam was good, the film, however, was not

I was excited to view this film after watching two shocking films before, and I was not pleased. It opens with a patriotic type of black mass(fabulously scored by Goldsmith)over sounding the continuing story of Damien, the antichrist, but alas it was not meant to be! Upsetting in almost all departments it was carried into, this film was a disapointment. I could deal with shocking deaths of child killing, because at least that was attention getting, but the ending was a real letdown!!! Sam Neill was absolutely perfect in a dark and seductive role as an older version of the antichrist, but his terrific portrayal was wasted by the terrible writing this one had to offer. All that build up for a lackluster ending! Just watch the first two, and avoid this one!