In “The First Omen,” a movie that shares thematic connections with “Immaculate,” we see an American novitiate in Italy experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. Under the measured direction of Arkasha Stevenson, this prequel to “The Omen” injects a slowly escalating sense of dread into its narrative. The film is replete with scenes that resonate with the haunting beauty of old religious artworks.
Margaret, taking up a teaching position at a Roman orphanage, observes a birth that is anything but typical. The birthing mother is physically restrained and muted with gas in the midst of her violent contortions and hysterical outcry, as Stevenson unflinchingly portrays the savage aspects of childbirth. Through sharp medical instruments and the woman’s exposed lower body on the stirrups, the scene underscores the invasive nature of pregnancy and childbirth. Viewers are then presented with a chilling image—a demonic entity emerging from her. These bold, almost surgical visuals serve to underscore how pregnancies can leave women feeling like they have lost ownership of their bodies and are subject to invasive medical practices. Cardinal Lawrence comments to a shocked and fainting Margaret that “The miracle of life can be a messy business,” a gross understatement in the context.
Culminating in a climactic twist, “The First Omen” presents the mother of Damien, the Antichrist, undergoing an accelerated full-term pregnancy in a matter of moments. Her belly expands grotesquely as she endures violent convulsions, salivation, vomiting, and emits eerie, non-human sounds. Stevenson assaults the audience visually with scenes of cesarean sections and the grotesque touch of the Devil during a Satanic ritual. Despite the extremity of its premise, the film serves as a grim reminder of the history of women’s bodies being used and controlled by religious institutions for their own purposes.
FAQ Section
What is “The First Omen” about?
“The First Omen” is a horror movie that acts as a prequel to the classic film “The Omen.” It tells the story of an American novitiate in Italy who becomes unexpectedly pregnant, leading to a series of harrowing and supernatural events.
How does director Arkasha Stevenson approach the theme of pregnancy in this movie?
Stevenson takes a slow-burn approach to depict pregnancy as invasive and brutal. She doesn’t shy away from showing harrowing birth scenes, invasive medical procedures, and the notion of women’s bodies being controlled and used by external forces, particularly religious institutions.
What makes the birthing scenes in “The First Omen” unique?
The birthing scene in the movie is particularly graphic and unsettling, featuring a demonic entity clawing out of a woman and a mother’s accelerated pregnancy. The intense visual storytelling emphasizes the vulnerability and lack of autonomy women face during pregnancy and childbirth.
Conclusion
“The First Omen” offers horror fans a chilling look at pregnancy through the lens of supernatural terror. Arkasha Stevenson’s direction delivers a slow-burning narrative that furthers the conversation on women’s autonomy and the inherent fears associated with pregnancy and childbirth. In the grand tradition of horror, the film uses its extreme premise to provoke thought and unsettle viewers, ensuring its place in the ranks of the genre’s most memorable and disturbing depictions of pregnancy.