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The 1970s saw a lot of devil worship movies, but the two biggest were easily THE EXORCIST (1973) and THE OMEN (1976).
How do they compare?
How do they compare?
The Exorcist vs The Omen
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I voted for The Exorcist. For me the scariest movie I've ever seen. I had nightmares after watching this and I blame my cousin. She was one of the first in our family to purchase a VCR and immediately joined a local Video Rental shop. The first rental was free, so what does she choose? The Exorcist. We all huddled in her lounge room. Teenagers believing we're in for a good night. Three walked out horrified. One actually felt sick. I managed to watch it until the end with the assistance of a blanket over my head.
I've never wished to go back and watch it. I've been informed the Director's Cut was worse. Years later we spoke about that night in the company of my cousins mother and she said if she had known what we were watching she would have put a stop to it.
I've never wished to go back and watch it. I've been informed the Director's Cut was worse. Years later we spoke about that night in the company of my cousins mother and she said if she had known what we were watching she would have put a stop to it.
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I find both great, but I find the exorcist scarier, and I also like the whole tableau it sets out, with Karras' guilt over his mother dying in NYC (although a Catholic Greek priest was rather implausible) and the famous actress and absent father leaving room for the demon to come possess the daughter.
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The Omen is a favourite film of mine. It's beautifully shot and nicely cast. I enjoy the Anglo-American sensibilities: it strikes the balance of being earthy and real with a few popcorn thrills. There's an unsettling dark atmosphere that runs through it. And Jerry Goldsmith's score is breathtaking.
For whatever reason I've never felt the need to watch The Exorcist.
For whatever reason I've never felt the need to watch The Exorcist.
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The Exorcist was more ground breaking, scarier and more shocking. Audiences had never seen anything like this before and it's still pretty shocking even by today's standards. And not just the subject matter but also the fact that you've got this young girl saying and doing the most revolting things. I mean, you have to question the judgement of Linda Blair's parents to be happy to have their daughter simulating masturbating with a crucifix and telling people their mother sucks cocks in hell! So, there's a lot to be shocked about. Plus there's the mythos that surrounds the whole production, the deaths that occurred on the set and close to those involved, and the vilification and persecution of Linda Blair after the film's release. So, the film is legendary for a number of reasons.
Yet, I think I prefer the premise and tone of the Omen. The mansion, the atmosphere, the strange deaths. If I had to choose one to sit down and watch right now I'd probably opt for The Omen, as I think it's a more enjoyable watch. But if I wanted to be freaked out and grossed out then it would have to be the Exorcist.
Yet, I think I prefer the premise and tone of the Omen. The mansion, the atmosphere, the strange deaths. If I had to choose one to sit down and watch right now I'd probably opt for The Omen, as I think it's a more enjoyable watch. But if I wanted to be freaked out and grossed out then it would have to be the Exorcist.
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Difficult choice. The Exorcist is scarier, and as mentioned before a groundbreaking movie.
Father Karras is an interesting protagonist and I love the gritty atmosphere (the seventies did it best) and also the Washington scenery and all those streets on different levels.
Is it weird to say that I kinda hated the mother? Not Burstyn's performance, just the character.
But The Omen is a more interesting story, and it has the fabulous Lee Remick* "rocking a turban" (as forum member Carrie Fairchild would put it), the mansion and the crazy nanny.
There's a sense of doom that outweighs The Exorcist (an isolated case) but the victims are all replaceable, I guess that's why it was possible to create two fantastic sequels.
*who would have been the perfect choice for Lady Ashley Mitchell
Sorry, I can't choose.
Father Karras is an interesting protagonist and I love the gritty atmosphere (the seventies did it best) and also the Washington scenery and all those streets on different levels.
Is it weird to say that I kinda hated the mother? Not Burstyn's performance, just the character.
But The Omen is a more interesting story, and it has the fabulous Lee Remick* "rocking a turban" (as forum member Carrie Fairchild would put it), the mansion and the crazy nanny.
There's a sense of doom that outweighs The Exorcist (an isolated case) but the victims are all replaceable, I guess that's why it was possible to create two fantastic sequels.
*who would have been the perfect choice for Lady Ashley Mitchell
Sorry, I can't choose.
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Funny... last night I was thinking how good Lee Grant would have been in the role.
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Believe it or not but I deleted that part of my first post.
Edit: oops, you're referring to Lady Ashley, I was thinking of Regan's mother.
Who dynasty-jacked this thread?
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Guilty.
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How very Alexicist of you.
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i love the exorcist more to be honest. but i do also love the omen as well but having said that The exorcist even as a kid never scared me as a kid like it did others, what scared me more was the Amityville horror films, i never saw the 1st one and 2nd one until like my teens i think? at least all the way through that is, but the 3rd one is the one i grew up with actually.
and those films gave me nightmares more so. the omen never did either, perhaps i'm a bit stronger on some movies than on others? i dunno ?
and those films gave me nightmares more so. the omen never did either, perhaps i'm a bit stronger on some movies than on others? i dunno ?
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I think The Exorcist is superior in every way, but it is difficult to compare them since they are so different from one another. I like many things about The Omen (among them the acting and the music) but I don't find it scary at all and I think it has some problems with the pacing. The Exorcist however is one of few movies that acctually scares me and I don't even believe in the devil... 
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I agree with you. Even more: back at the 80's, I wrote a villain role for Lee Remick in my first ever fanfic titled "Star". She was a big business diva called Gloria Bannister, at odds with the show´s main character Andrea Stevenson (played by Elizabeth Taylor). Both also fought for the same man by the way... (RIP both actresses, two favorites of mine)
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Is that picture of Remick from the mini-series "Wheels"? I've always wanted to watch it eventhough Arthur Hailey's televised stories tend to disappoint.
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I thought the Exorcist was pretty poor in every way but I love the Omen, it scared me to death and had wonderful casting with Leo Mckern, David warner and most of all the fab and handsome Mr Peck. Whenever I watch it I always dig out my old bible and read the bit in Revelations about 666, the number of the beast (cue for a song there lol)
I also enjoyed Omen 2 but Omen 3 sucked big time
I also enjoyed Omen 2 but Omen 3 sucked big time
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