Cursed Films Episode 2: The Omen
Before I start, I just want everyone to know that the original episode guide for Cursed Films seems to be wrong. Episode 2 should be about Poltergeist but instead, it’s The Omen. Just a heads up.
The Omen, from 1976 by director Richard Donner is about a little boy who is the Antichrist. Since its release, there’s been three sequels, a 2006 remake and a legacy that changed the world of horror forever. Horror in the form of a child with a sweet face. The very concept terrified people as did the supposed curse that haunted the production.
The second episode of Cursed Films takes on a more mysterious route than its pilot. The episode is primarily split in half with part one explaining what might’ve cursed The Omen, and the second half explaining why so many people believe that it’s cursed at all. That curses appear only when you look for them, so desperately believing one exists that it actually manifests at a mental level. Your mind puts it there for you to see, to establish a form of make-believe control. That bad things happen because someone or something causes them, and a simple blessing, spell, or positive thought can redirect it elsewhere. This is essentially what happened with The Omen.
The curse of production
The episode begins with former members of The Omen crew listing everything that happened during production. Things that feel like it came straight out of the film itself. Before production began, they were told by a religious advisor that making a film about the Devil would invite him in. Podcaster Matt Gourley says it perfectly, “the curse attached to The Omen is an interesting one because it kind of almost seems self-inflicted.”
Several of the jets carrying crew members were struck by lightning, all within a few days of each other. Then a plane that was supposed to have Gregory Peck on it crashed, killing everyone on board. If there was a curse in that occurrence though, I would feel that the pilot was its target. Not only did he die but when the plane crashed, it hit a station wagon that had his wife and child inside. Feels less about The Omen when looked at objectively.
In London, the crew had additional trouble with the IRA, who were very active around this time. The restaurant, Scott’s Oyster Bar, they were planning to eat at was bombed. It wasn’t the only bombing that took place in 1975 though; Hilton Hotel, Green Park Underground Station and the six collective bombs that went off on January 27. None of which had any connection to the film. There was also a fatal car accident after the film wrapped and an event that took place in the zoo where they filmed the baboon scene. A trainer was killed by a tiger.
It all makes convincing evidence for a curse.
The why and the how
Cursed Films has an interesting technique when giving its final analysis. This was also in the case with Episode 1 but to a lesser extent. It offers two major explanations. One psychological and one paranormal. At least two speakers are members of the occult, a black magician and a witch. They share their opinion on the matter, including possible reasons that a curse might attach itself to a movie. They’re joined by numerous religious experts who claim the Devil himself is responsible.
At one point a man named Michael Correll (a witch known as Uncle Birth) casts a curse on an unnamed film for the viewers’ pleasure. The episode shows the whole thing. He stands in a circle in a Matrix coat and performs the ritual for the cameras. It’s probably the weirdest thing I’ve seen in a half-hour documentary. However, the whole second half backtracks against everything, giving a more straightforward, logical explanation involving the brain’s need to see patterns.
There is also the subject matter to consider. A taboo topic that, similar to The Exorcist, was too frightening for people to acknowledge. Fun fact: nothing unusual occurred during the making of the 2006 remake. Does that mean Satan only cares about original productions? Is he a film snob?
(3.5 / 5)
Breaking News
The Last Drive-In: Joe Bob’s Vicious Vegas Valentine Special Live Watch Party February 10th!
The sweet putrid stench of love lingers through the air which can only mean one thing…Valentine’s Day and its annoying little winged cherub mascot, Cupid, is fast approaching. Soon, partners will be spoiling one another with extravagant bouquets of roses, heartfelt Hallmark cards, obnoxiously large teddy bears, glistening diamond jewelry, and heart-shaped candies or boxes filled with assorted mediocre chocolates. You know? Normal things couples do. I tend to prefer my chocolate boxes filled with bleeding hearts, Ă la ‘My Bloody Valentine’ but, beggars can’t be choosers, right? All jokes aside, Valentine’s Day is special for many couples, however, there are also many others who find themselves celebrating this day without a significant other. Luckily, Shudder, along with drive-in king Joe Bob Briggs and co-host Darcy the Mail Girl (Diana Prince) will graciously be keeping us lonely mutants’, and yes, all you horror fanatic couples’ company on Friday, February 10th as they return with The Last Drive-In: Joe Bob’s Vicious Vegas Valentine, premiering live at 9pm EST.
Love Spells Abound…
Back in 2021, Joe Bob and Darcy invited us to a gruesomely passionate night of spell-binding love witches and animatronic dinosaurs infused with teenage human brains during The Last Drive-In: Joe Bob Put a Spell on You. Many, including myself, were introduced to the tantalizing 70’s inspired retro throwback ‘The Love Witch’ and the graphically goofy cult classic ‘Tammy and the T-Rex’, providing the perfect viewing pleasure to mend any broken heart. While the two films for this year’s morbid love-induced special have yet to be announced, as a special treat, Briggs has announced for the first time on The Last Drive-In, he will be marrying one lucky couple during the live showing. We here at HauntedMTL are eagerly awaiting the return of the ghoulish duo so, as is tradition, we will be proudly hosting a watch party on Twitter during the broadcasting of The Last Drive-In: Joe Bob’s Vicious Vegas Valentine. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and tag us @hauntedMTL as well as @shudder, @therealjoebob, and @kinky_horror to partake in this night of unholy love.
What started off as a one-time special premiering on Shudder July 13, 2018, ‘The Last Drive- In’ was originally meant to be Brigg’s swan song; one last special before hanging up the bolo tie in retirement. However, due to so many mutants, excuse me…viewers tuning in and breaking the Shudder servers, it was only natural to announce an official full season of ‘The Last Drive-In‘, which would make its explosive debut March 19, 2019. Since then, Darcy and Briggs have spawned many exclusive holiday specials, have graciously donated to many charities within the community, and have accumulated 4 seasons of ‘The Last Drive-In’, with a fifth currently in production premiering on Shudder’s 2023 schedule sometime this year, let’s hope sooner rather than later.
Movies n TV
Horror Noire, a Film Review
Horror Noire is a horror collection that includes “Daddy,” “The Lake,” “Brand of Evil,” “Bride Before You,” “Fugue State,” and “Sundown.”
Horror Noire is a horror collection brought by the combined efforts of AMC+ and Shudder. The collection includes “Daddy,” “The Lake,” “Brand of Evil,” “Bride Before You,” “Fugue State,” and “Sundown.” Horror Noire boasts Black directors and screenwriters, providing six unique stories.
As this collection explores six stories, I will skip the usual synopsis to assess the genres and ideas explored, albeit limited as needed. Expect to find supernatural horror, creature features, and psychological thrillers. Many short films deal with these genres while exploring Black issues, but this isn’t universal for the collection.
The directors and writers include Zandashé Brown, Robin Givens, Rob Greenlea, Kimani Ray Smith, Steven Barnes, Ezra Clayton Daniels, Tananarive Due, Shernold Edwards, Victor LaValle, and Al Letson.
What I Like
Each story remains unique, holding different strengths and weaknesses that highlight drastically different perspectives. Collections like VHS hold a similar premise to create their collection, but Horror Noire gives more creative freedom to its talent to be independent.
My personal favorite short film is Zandashé Brown’s “Bride Before You.” This period piece unravels a fable set in the Reconstruction Era. The entry feels Fabulistic in approach, which happens to be my preferred niche.
However, the best example of horror goes to Robin Givens’ “Daddy,” providing an existential horror tied directly to the characters involved.
What I Dislike
As mentioned, all have a particular style and idea. The downside of this approach always remains to keep the viewer interested long enough to find their favorite. If you find several underwhelming choices, this becomes a chore. But I imagine that is rare as the variety makes the options refreshing.
Personally, “Brand of Evil” had an interesting premise, but the execution fell short. On paper, it might have sounded like my favorite, which makes the lackluster execution a bigger letdown.
Final Thoughts
Horror Noire gives power and control to Black creators, providing a formula for a unique collection against others in the space. While the various subjects and approaches mean you aren’t likely to love them all, there should be a short film for everyone. (3.5 / 5)
Episode six of Netflix’s Dahmer was not, honestly about our title character. Instead, it was about one of his victims, a man named Tony. We’ve actually seen Tony a few times during this series. We just didn’t know it was him.
And, well, he wasn’t exactly alive the first time we saw him.
Tony was born into a supportive, loving family. This is good because soon after he was born a viral infection took his hearing. He is black, deaf, and gay in the early 90’s.
Tony has a dream of becoming a model. And he certainly has the looks for it. He is beautiful, body and soul. He has lots of opportunities for romance, but it’s not what he’s looking for. He wants a real relationship.
Eventually Tony moves to Madison, trying to pursue his dream. He gets a job and starts getting modeling work.
Then, he meets Jeff Dahmer at a bar.
At first, we can almost believe that it’s going to be alright. Jeff seems happy. He’s taking care of himself. He’s not drinking as much. He even has his dad and stepmom over for dinner. It seems like his life is getting on track. Even better, he’s treating Tony right.
Then, of course, things go bad.
One thing that has always bothered me as a true crime fan is that we know so much about the killers, but not as much about the victims. Not so much if we don’t know who the killer is, of course. But the names that are part of our pop culture are those of the killers. Dahmer, Manson, Jones, Bundy, Holms. The names we don’t know are Roberta Parks, Beth LaBiancas, Leno LaBiancas, and Tony Hughes. And clearly, we should know them.
If Tony Hughes was half the shining, positive person that the show Dahmer made him out to be, I’m so sad that he isn’t with us anymore. We need so many more people like him. And many of Dahmer’s victims were likely just like him. After all, he was attracted to them for a reason.
This was a significant episode, and I understand why it’s the highest-rated episode of the series. I finished it with a heavy heart, saddened by the loss of a man who should still be with us today.Â
(5 / 5)
SN
April 17, 2022 at 7:27 pm
You got the person who did the cursing of a production wrong. And got the nickname wrong. E.A. Koetting was the “black magician” who did the curse. Michael Correll “Uncle Birch” was a witch who didn’t participate. (Just finished the episode and was trying to figure out which production, since they show him saying the production name after the end credits and found your post.)