Review of The Final Conflict (1981) by Matthew D — 12 Sep 2018

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.