The innocence is gone. Utterly and irrevocably purged. Where the original Omen haunted us with the terrifying idea of a child embodying pure evil, hidden behind cherubic features, Damien: Omen II drags us into a far more unsettling reality: the dawning awareness. The Antichrist is growing up, and the world, whether it knows it yet or not, is beginning to kneel. There's a specific chill to this 1978 sequel, a sense of dreadful inevitability that felt potent flickering on a worn VHS tape late at night.
The Boy Becomes the Beast
Picking up seven years after his adoptive parents met their grisly ends, Damien Thorn (Jonathan Scott-Taylor) is now thirteen, living with his enormously wealthy industrialist uncle Richard (William Holden) and aunt Ann (Lee Grant). He's enrolled in a prestigious military academy, a place simmering with rigid discipline and nascent power dynamics – fertile ground, wouldn't you say? Scott-Taylor carries the weight of the role admirably. Gone is the ambiguous blankness of Harvey Spencer Stephens; this Damien possesses a cold intelligence, a flicker of calculation behind the polite facade. The true horror lies not just in the external forces protecting him, but in watching him piece together his own horrific destiny, particularly during the unsettling sequence involving the ancient Yigael's Wall mural, revealed by archaeologist Carl Bugenhagen (Leo McKern, briefly reprising his role). Doesn't that dawning realization still send a shiver down your spine?
Giants in the Shadow of Doom
It’s impossible to discuss Damien: Omen II without acknowledging the presence of William Holden. In a twist of fate worthy of the film itself, Holden had famously turned down the role of Robert Thorn in the original Omen, reportedly regretting it after that film's massive success. Here, he steps in as Robert's brother, Richard, bringing a world-weary gravitas and palpable disbelief that slowly curdles into horrified acceptance. He grounds the escalating supernatural events with a very human struggle. Alongside him, Lee Grant is equally compelling as Ann, initially protective but gradually consumed by suspicion and terror. Their performances lend a tragic weight to the proceedings, reminding us of the human cost orbiting Damien's dark star. They aren't just potential victims; they are loving guardians forced to confront the unthinkable.
A Symphony of Calculated Cruelty
While the original film often relied on suggestion and atmosphere, this sequel leans more heavily into spectacular, almost baroque, death sequences orchestrated by unseen forces. Director Don Taylor (who replaced original director Mike Hodges early in production, a fact that perhaps accounts for some slight tonal shifts) delivers some truly memorable, wince-inducing moments. The scene beneath the frozen lake remains nightmarish in its execution, a tableau of icy terror. The elevator cable incident? Pure, shocking brutality that likely had audiences gasping back in the day. And who could forget the unfortunate doctor bisected by a runaway train car? These practical effects-driven demises, often heralded by the chilling appearance of a raven, were hallmarks of the era's horror – visceral, sudden, and designed to leave an imprint. Jerry Goldsmith also returned, his Oscar-winning themes subtly reworked, weaving that familiar, ominous "Ave Satani" chant into a score that underscores the growing dread and inevitable doom.
The Establishment as Enabler
Beyond the supernatural shocks, Damien: Omen II carries a darker, more insidious undercurrent. The military academy setting isn't just window dressing; it represents structure, hierarchy, and the molding of future leaders. We see figures within Thorn Industries, powerful men like Paul Buher (Robert Foxworth), actively grooming and protecting Damien, seeing his rise as beneficial to their own ambitions. This adds a layer of chilling commentary – the idea that evil doesn't just operate in the shadows but can be actively welcomed and facilitated by the very institutions meant to uphold order. It suggests a world already subtly corrupted, merely awaiting its appointed ruler. It's less about fighting the Devil and more about watching the world roll out the red carpet for him.
The Legacy of the Mark
Damien: Omen II might not possess the raw, groundbreaking terror of its predecessor, feeling perhaps a touch more like a conventional, albeit very effective, horror thriller. Some find the plot beats a bit more predictable this time around, the "accidents" almost expected. Yet, it succeeds remarkably well on its own terms. It expands the mythology, delivers unforgettable set-piece deaths, and crucially, explores the chilling psychological development of its titular Antichrist. It captures that specific late-70s paranoia, blending corporate power with ancient evil in a way that felt disturbingly plausible. Watching it again now, perhaps the seams in the effects show a little more, but the atmosphere of encroaching darkness and the strength of the central performances remain potent. It’s a vital chapter in the Omen saga, the terrifying bridge between the ominous child and the man who would bring about Armageddon.
Rating: 7.5/10
The score reflects a sequel that, while not surpassing the original masterpiece, stands as a strong, atmospheric, and often genuinely shocking horror film in its own right. It delivers iconic kills, features strong lead performances, and masterfully builds upon the chilling premise. It loses slight points for a less cohesive feel than the first (perhaps due to the directorial change) and a sense of inevitability that slightly lessens the suspense compared to the original's mystery. Still, it's a dark gem from the era, a necessary step in Damien's terrifying journey, and a film that undoubtedly fueled nightmares for many who slid that tape into their VCR. Doesn't it still feel like a chillingly plausible vision of power corrupted?