Blu B
How...How in the world is this somehow worse than Omen II which was basically a Quasi retelling/remake of the first just not done as well. This idea should be AWESOME and sick with so many cool ideas and themes to explore. Damien on the cusp of suceeding and fufilling the prohacy foretold in ancient times? How is that not a sick idea for climatic epic showdown. And yet....it's terrible. The acting isn't good at all. Sam Neil is miscast and comes across as a whiny rich kid dweeb whose trying to act like Dr. Evil from Austin Powers rather than the second coming of Satan. He's over the top and clearly trying but it just doesn't work at all. They needed someone like a Brad Dourif type of actor instead. Everyone else is so robotic, wooden, emotionless and forgettable. The cinematography isn't good either somehow which is a shame considering how gorgous the first one was. The framing is good ill give it that in lots of it but the lighting is dull, it's very boring to look at in general, none of the set pieces are that memorable, and lots of scenes are stupid, bizarre, make no sense, or laughably bad. The kills are so stupid like iron, the dog making people kill themselves, Damien lying on the floor nude in the house in the fetile position, how a legion of thousands of followers are in a canyon waiting for his orders. None of it makes sense at certain points. The music is alright but very forgettable and while it matches the theme of this series and the first it just isn't used as well and isn't as catchy somehow despite being very simliar. The editing and pacing are terrible as well. This drags Terribly as it goes on. I swear it feels like the last 30 minutes go for like an hour. I think it really started to get draggy during that scene where they're hunting rabbits on horseback and it just drags so much. Beautiful location but not shot well, it's dull, and just drags. It's so boring at points depite being a ridiculous plot most of the time. It's really jumpy and never commits to ideas fully. Damien being hunted by the relgious cult, Damiens plans for world domination, his relationship with Peter, hunting the children born on March 24th, it jumps around terribly and never does anything with this stuff besides throwing ridiculous kills and moments that make no sense or are extremely farfetched. And it just ends with him being stabbed in the back in the most anticlimatic thing ever. This also is more plot focused than character focused as well. This should've stayed focused on Damien the entire way, explored his character and what drives him to fufill the spawn of satan prophacy. It's a FASINATING character to explore, arguably nothing else compares! But the poor acting, unfocused narrative, uninspired direction, and crazy plot just weigh this down terribly. I'm sad to say skip this. Worst of the Trilogy. Man if this is on of those movies that absolutely deserves a remake.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
10/04/24
Full Review
Sérgio N
Após 3 anos da continuação mequetrefe, eis que chegamos ao desfecho clássico da franquia do capiroto encarnado.
Aqui temos uma trama até bem razoável e plausível, envolvendo a política e dominação global (qualquer semelhança com a realidade não seria mera coincidência).
Porém, é só isso mesmo. Não existe mais aquele clima sombrio ou aquelas cenas macabras lá do primeiro (que também quase não foram vistas no segundo). O final então, não dá nem pra comentar.
Sam Neill, em um dos seus primeiros trabalhos, até tentou segurar o ritmo, mas quase não fez efeito e Baker em sua estreia também não disse (e pouco diria futuramente) para o que veio.
Enfim, um pouco melhor que o segundo, mas ainda inferior ao primeiro.
Franquia:
1976 - The Omen (4,5)
1981 - The Final Conflict (3,5)
1978 - Damien: Omen II (3)
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
09/09/24
Full Review
Matthew D
Sam Neill delivers atrocity despite the film's flaws.
I must say that while not comparable to the perfect classic The Omen (1976), nor the surprisingly great sequel Damien - Omen II (1978), Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981) is a fairly entertaining follow-up.
The director Graham Baker is hit or miss here. He is no Richard Donner, nor Don Taylor, but he has his moments. The scene in the attic which sees Damien Thorn monologue directly to Jesus Christ is horrifying and fascinating. The finale is quite gorgeously shot. The occasional long panning shot or neat backdrop is appreciated herein. I just wish the director got more steady shots instead of lazy shaky camera work.
I must mention the cast. While a majority of the cast is forgettable, Sam Neill is phenomenal as the adult man Damien Thorn. Neill pulls off atrocity, cruelty, and heinous contempt for sanctimonious religion with a sinister finesse. His slicked haircut is perfectly reminiscent of the childhood Damien in the previous movies. I also appreciated his tailored dark suits that fit Damien's look. I loved Neill's monologue to the state of Jesus in his home. It's honestly the best acting I have ever seen from Neill. His rampage in the finale is well acted as well. I wish the rest of this ensemble were as inspired as Neill in The Omen III.
Pacing is a huge issue as the movie is not even very long, but feels like an hour longer than it actually runs. Few edits and long, drawn out sequences lead to a horrid slow pace throughout The Omen III. There will be sudden possession or suggestion from Damien like the first 2 films, but then instead of the victim killing themselves in an interesting way immediately, we are subjected to a dull series of events before a disappointingly boring kill. It's odd that they didn't try harder to engage during the murders.
Then, there is the issue of the main plot. There's little plot or conflict, so you are just along for the ride instead of wondering who will stop Damien. The point of The Omen was that Gregory Peck had Damien with him as he slowly learned of his unholy progeny. Much like Omen II which saw William Holden slowly get convinced that Damien is evil. The Omen III sees Lisa Harrow only find out about Damien being The Antichrist towards the very end. The majority of the film's plot sees us witness the 7 incompetent priests attempt to assassinate Damien with disappointing results.
Lastly, the score is still cool. It's the same theme from The Omen you already know and love, but it is not utilized nearly enough for my taste. Much of this film, we are watching people talk in otherwise silent rooms. Plenty of extraneous scenes of people just walking somewhere in total silence or than ambient noise. I wish the director Baker would have chosen to put the score in more often.
In all, this is a slow slog of a sequel to The Omen and Damien - Omen II. But, Sam Neill's impeccable performance is worth the price of admission. There are some seriously cool and well executed sequences. Neill personifies The Antichrist with a childlike glee and it is glorious.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
08/17/24
Full Review
Farah R
Sam Neil elevates the third installment in the Omen trilogy by portraying Damien as the evil incarnate he's destined to become. Unfortunately, the filmmakers miss out on developing a genuinely terrifying conclusion because, for such a formidable antagonist, the protagonist appears as a vision at the film's last minute to defeat the antichrist unimpressively.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
04/12/24
Full Review
sylvipuente
I did like this movie, keeps the plot and the performances are good.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
04/11/24
Full Review
Eye C
Well it is done, thanks god for ending this, long and boring saga, I didn't like it at all.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
04/10/24
Full Review
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