2024’s The First Omen is one of the best prequel horror movies of all time, but it stands on its own merits as an excellent possession flick. The story follows a young American woman (Nell Tiger Free) who travels to Rome to begin her service at a Catholic orphanage during a time of political unrest in late-’60s Italy. There, she encounters a malevolent force that shakes her faith to its core and unravels a chilling conspiracy, one designed to usher in the birth of the Antichrist.
Alien: Romulus, another horror prequel, was released that same year, and went on to win Best Horror Film at the 52nd Saturn Awards. Both films begin by establishing their own identities before tying back to earlier entries in their respective franchises.
But unlike Romulus, which brings in a digital double of Ian Holm within the first 30 minutes, The First Omen waits until its final 10 minutes to reveal its connection to 1976’s The Omen via a similar trick. By holding off, director Arkasha Stevenson and her co-writers fully earn their payoff, with a link that feels more like a satisfying reward than a forced callback. It’s such a good film that all fans of the Omen trilogy should discard the much-maligned third movie, 1981’s The Final Conflict, and replace it with this one in future rewatches.
Because of their overlapping themes, Italian settings, and near-simultaneous releases, The First Omen and Immaculate have been widely compared as “twin films.” Both explore issues of female bodily autonomy and the systemic control of women’s bodies, earning recognition within the controversial nunsploitation subgenre. Although they do tackle the same topics, The First Omen handles them with more nuance, particularly in its social commentary on women and Rome’s protests during that time. It’s a possession horror film that manages to feel both familiar and entirely fresh, weaving in unique themes that set it apart from others in the genre — and it stands as a blueprint for how to successfully revive a classic franchise.
Where to watch: Available to stream on Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV, Fangango at Home, and similar digital platforms.
Polygon’s annual Halloween Countdown is a 31-day run of short recommendations of the best horror movies, shows, TV episodes, and online specials to stream for the Halloween season. You can find the entire calendar here.
