The First Omen
A novice in 1970s Rome confronts a satanic conspiracy that turns religious devotion and childbirth into instruments of supernatural terror.
Overview
A young woman's faith is tested as she uncovers a sinister plot in the heart of Rome.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- foreboding
- oppressive
- late night horror
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's stylish direction, atmosphere, practical effects, and Nell Tiger Free's performance, while finding its franchise-bound plotting familiar and uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Margaret's experiences in the maternity ward and the film's reproductive conspiracy make bodily violation central to its horror.
Margaret uncovers a conspiracy among senior church figures seeking to engineer the birth of evil.
The 1970s Roman setting is rendered through ornate Catholic spaces, grotesque practical effects, and audacious occult imagery.
Margaret arrives in Rome intending to serve the church but increasingly questions her religious commitment as darkness surrounds her.
Films like The First Omen, and why
The Omen
shared satanic horror, religious conspiracy, ominous atmosphere, and escalating supernatural dread
Rosemary's Baby
shared demonic pregnancy themes, body horror, religious paranoia, and psychological terror
Immaculate
shared female-centered religious horror, institutional abuse, and visceral supernatural imagery
The Exorcist
shared occult conspiracy, Catholic imagery, period setting, and graphic horror aesthetics
Movie Details
- Director
- Arkasha Stevenson
- Release Date
- 2024-04-03
- Runtime
- 119 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (1405)
Cast
- Nell Tiger Free
- Ralph Ineson
- Sonia Braga
- Tawfeek Barhom
- María Caballero
- Charles Dance
- Bill Nighy
- Nicole Sorace
- Ishtar Currie Wilson
- Andrea Arcangeli
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The First Omen about?
- A novice in 1970s Rome confronts a satanic conspiracy that turns religious devotion and childbirth into instruments of supernatural terror.
- What is The First Omen like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The First Omen as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The First Omen violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The First Omen as graphic.
- What did critics think of The First Omen?
- Critics broadly praised the film's stylish direction, atmosphere, practical effects, and Nell Tiger Free's performance, while finding its franchise-bound plotting familiar and uneven.
- Which films are like The First Omen?
- Films with a similar feel include The Omen, Rosemary's Baby, Immaculate, and The Exorcist.
- How long is The First Omen?
- The First Omen runs 119 minutes.
- Where can I watch The First Omen?
- In United States, The First Omen streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
