Damien: Omen II (1978)

Damien the Antichrist, now about to turn thirteen years old, finally learns of his destiny under the guidance of an unholy disciple of Satan. Meanwhile dark forces begin to eliminate all those who suspect the child's true identity.

Directors:

Don Taylor, Mike Hodges (uncredited)

Writers:

Harvey Bernhard (story), David Seltzer (based on characters created by)

Stars:

William Holden, Lee Grant, Jonathan Scott-Taylor

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Holden	...	Richard Thorn
Lee Grant	...	Ann Thorn
Jonathan Scott-Taylor	...	Damien Thorn
Robert Foxworth	...	Paul Buher
Nicholas Pryor	...	Charles Warren
Lew Ayres	...	Bill Atherton
Sylvia Sidney	...	Aunt Marion
Lance Henriksen	...	Sergeant Neff
Elizabeth Shepherd	...	Joan Hart
Lucas Donat	...	Mark Thorn
Allan Arbus	...	Pasarian (as Alan Arbus)
Fritz Ford	...	Murray
Meshach Taylor	...	Dr. Kane
John J. Newcombe	...	Teddy
John Charles Burns	...	Butler

Storyline

Seven years later, Damien Thorn is about to turn 13 and is just discovering who he really is, and what he is destined to do. Now living with his Aunt, Uncle, and cousin in a wealthy suburb of Chicago, Damien is in line to inherit everything from his family. Can Richard Thorn finish the job that Damien's father (Ambassador Robert Thorn) started?

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Plot Keywords:

antichrist | boy | bible prophecy | ends with freeze frame | religious horror | 

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Taglines:

The first time was only a warning.

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the only Omen movie that takes place in the U.S.; The Omen (1976) and The Final Conflict (1981) both take place in London.

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Goofs

Simple blood tests could have determined that Damian was not the offspring of the ambassador and his wife. Why this is never seriously addressed during the film is unknown. They could, but there was never a reason to. It was established that the only ones that knew at the beginning of the first film was Damian's father, the priest that convinced him to switch the babies, and the Satanists involved with the birth. By the time the first film is over nobody knew except Satanists. If Robert never told Richard about it, there wouldn't have been any reason for them to do the tests.

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Quotes

Ann Thorn: What are you doing?
Richard Thorn: The daggers must be here somewhere.
Ann Thorn: What you want them for? No! No!
Richard Thorn: He's not human.
Ann Thorn: He's your brother's son, he's a boy you've loved for seven years.
Richard Thorn: The boy has got to die!

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Crazy Credits

An abridged 6 second version of the Alfred Newman Fox fanfare is heard

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Alternate Versions

In all non-premium cable channel prints (i.e edited versions of the movie,) Dr. Kane's death is edited strongly.

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Connections

Followed by Omen IV: The Awakening (1991)

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Soundtracks

Happy Birthday to You
(uncredited)
Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill

User Reviews

A must to see for anyone who liked THE OMEN.

This sequel to THE OMEN is a "fun" film. It continues the story of the anti-Christ Damien into his teenage years and his years in military school. Now adopted into the family of his father's brother, an unsuspecting Damien is unwittingly at the centre of a plot to bring Satan's son to the threshold of power. Everyone around him is at risk as the secret of Damien's birth is under threat of exposure by forces emerging from around the world - and at the root of this threat are the mad depictions painted on an ancient wall that reveal the very face of evil.

Jonathon Scott-Taylor gives a commanding and creepy performance as the ultimate misfit son. Looking particularly significant in his military outfit, Scott-Taylor captures - as much as the script allows him - the torment of self-discovery as the truth of his existence is revealed to him. The script could have demanded more from such a fascinating scenario, and tried to make Damien more of a Miltonic Satanic Hero, but the film chooses to go for as much shock value whenever it can. Mysterious and violent accidents - linked by the ever-present shadow of a raven of death - dominate this movie from beginning to end. The scene involving an ill-fated lady on a deserted country road is one of its most grotesque. As death and destruction mount, Damien goes from self-possessed orphan to self-recognized supreme power in the span of two hours.

William Holden and Lee Grant play Damien's surrogate parents, Richard and Ann Thorn. They are not really allowed to display their incredible talents in this film, but Holden does fine trying to duplicate Peck's memorable performance in the original. Grant does what she can with this supporting role, but has a great moment in the film that proves worthy to wait for. The always wonderful Sylvia Sidney makes a memorable appearance as one of Damien's greatest "thorns" - the troublemaking menace Aunt Marion. And the ending is a bit of a shock if you watch the film closely, particularly if you listen to the exposition early on in the film about "The Whore of Babylon."

Another highlight is Jerry Goldsmith's title score - empowering, commanding and downright evil, the opening score is one of my favorites.

Although not as creepy as the first film, DAMIEN: OMEN II has its moments, and is worth seeing for anyone who likes to have a fun time with all this biblical stuff.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 June 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Omen II

Filming Locations:

James W. Jardine Water Purification Plant, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,880,880, 11 June 1978

Gross USA:

$26,518,355

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,518,355

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Harvey Bernhard Productions, Mace Neufeld Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1