Day Seven – The Omen
If The Omen were only this awesome. Back in the 70’s we had a spate of amazing sacrilegious movies. It was the golden era for the Devil and his barbed penis. Kids were possessed, evil kids were born, pussies were stabbed, and there was a generally crimson hue to the cinema. It was perfect, especially if you like it when families are ruined by arcane magic. The Polish have brought the world many things that often end in ‘ski’ but their finest export by far has been their movie posters, bizarre and oftentimes jaw-dropping interpretations of films from all over the world. Sometimes literal examinations of their source but sometimes absolutely batshit pieces of art that almost take on a life of their own. Over the next fifteen weekdays I’ll be sharing some of the best examples of how these creative necromancers interpret American cinema. The Omen was the movie that made it totally uncool to name your child Damien and many an evening in the 70’s was spent with parents combing through hair to search for that telltale “666” on the scalp of their precocious child who’d just shit in the casserole.
The Polish artist is a huge fan of line art and lithographs, and who isn’t? It conveys information lucidly and without fanfare. In this instance the man sat down at his drafting table and drew a primitive sketch of a boy luring an unsuspecting gentleman into a hole that just happens to be filled to the brim with brim[stone]. The Devil head trap! Not again!
What would this movie be like?
The ‘Satan Head as an Ant Lion’ motif is a delicious one. The idea of a boy luring individuals to a remote location where the gigantic and nervous looking head of the Devil awaits is fantastic. Especially once they’re ensnared. I mean, what if they just sit there a while like in the Sarlaac? I mean, it’s not his open jaws with fangs a-waitin’. It’s his baffled head. They’re not even going to be impaled by his horns. They’re going to comfortably land and then wonder if there’s cell reception so they can call someone with a three foot rope.
In my youth I apparently auditioned for the role.
Me. 1993.
Who is the audience for this film?
Ben Affleck. George Peppard. Other actors with huge heads. Me.
What the fucking fuck is fucking fucking?
This isn’t fucked. It’s adorable.
The domestic poster for The Omen:
Tagline vs. Tagline?
The American poster is iconic and memorable and its coolness cannot be challenged. I like “You have been warned” also. Especially without punctuation. If the Polish poster had a tagline it would have been similar:
“You have been warned… of a huge head/trap in the woods.”
What other movies could effectively use this poster?
Head Games. The Devil’s Own. On Golden Pond. Sneakers. Enchanted.
Tomorrow: Similar to this one, only hilariouser.
Day One – Day Two – Day Three – Day Four – Day Five
Day Six – Day Seven – Day Eight – Day Nine – Day Ten
Day Eleven – Day Twelve – Day Thirteen – Day Fourteen – Day Fifteen
Discuss this list on our message boards.
The Omen (1976) 111 min
An American ambassador learns to his horror that his son is actually the literal Antichrist.
- Released
- 06.25.1976 (UK)
- Directors
- Richard Donner
- Writers
- David Seltzer
- Actors
- Gregory Peck
- Lee Remick
- David Warner
- Billie Whitelaw
- Harvey Stephens
- Genres
- Horror
- Watch or buy now