Weekend Watch: The First Omen, Loot Season 2
A demonic conspiracy and a billionaire's continued quest
Image Credit: 20th Century Studios
Welcome to the latest edition of Weekend Watch, where I recommend (or occasionally warn against) movies or TV shows I’ve been checking out. This week, Nell Tiger Free is bedeviled by a nunspiracy and Maya Rudolph is still looking to be charitable. Follow James on Twitter: @jamwhite and Threads/Instagram: @jammerwhite
Welcome back to the tricky world of prequels, that increasingly common territory where filmmakers dare to tread, aiming to fill in details that add to the story of established classics while not hitting the tripwire of annoying fans of the original film/show/book by offering up unnecessary backstory.
1976’s Richard Donner-directed horror film The Omen has already been through the sequel, remake (in 2006 to mixed reviews) and TV spin-off route, so I suppose this was the next natural step. But in the hands of first-time feature director Arkasha Stevenson, it turns out to be an atmospheric, creepy and thoughtful look at the story through the lens of a brand-new character.
With a script from Stevenson, her creative partner Tim Smith (and earlier drafts by Keith Thomas and Ben Jacoby, the new movie introduces us to naïve, devoutly religious young American Margaret (Nell Tiger Free), dispatched to Rome to begin a life of service to the church.
Working in an orphanage among nuns and priests, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.
If you’ve seen (or even heard of) the Donner film, you’ll know exactly where the story is headed (demonic baby klaxon!) but Stevenson makes some smart choices and layers in a mythology that works to dovetail into the story we know.
The most intelligent diversion here is putting the focus firmly on a female viewpoint, since women in horror movies are so often reduced to screaming, crying, tortured victims. Make no mistake –– terrible wrongs are visited on some of the young women in the story by design, but there is much more agency in Free’s Margaret than many other films of the genre. It seems to be a trend of late, what with the likes of Immaculate and last year’s Deliver Us tackling similar territory.
Free is always convincing and watchable in the lead role, throwing herself into terrifying physical scenes and keeping your focus. And Stevenson has an eye for a horror scare, finding interesting ways to homage the Donner film and coming up with her own ideas on top.
Not everything is ideal, mind you. Without spoiling anything, the finale has some elements that stretch credulity and point to a surely unwarranted (yet common in studio plans) new branch of the story. They rely too heavily on convenience and extra suspension of disbelief, which when you already have the antichrist being born, is nearing breaking point. It also somewhat wastes Bill Nighy (though he gets a couple of good moments).
I always seem to be saying in this column that I’m not a horror movie buff, or even that much of a fan, but The First Omen, is one that pushes me further to becoming a convert.
The First Omen is in UK and US cinemas now.
Image Credit: Apple TV+
There is a much-ballyhooed TV series debuting this week on Apple TV+ that features a big-name star and an impressive, eclectic cast. Sadly, I was somewhat sour on it, so instead I shall point you to one of my happy places on the company’s service, and welcome the return of Loot for a second season.
The series, in case it passed you by, stars Maya Rudolph as Molly Wells, who has settled a very public divorce from tech billionaire John Novak (Adam Scott).
This second run is set a year after the end of the first season and finds Molly thriving in her role as the head of her philanthropic organization, the Wells Foundation. Focused mainly on her charity work, Molly has sworn off any new relationships.
Around here are the assembled oddities who make up the foundation’s staff, including no-nonsense executive director Sofia Salinas (Michaela Jaé Rodriguez), who does find time for a relationship this year, the ever-enthusiastic Howard (Ron Funches) and joyful Nicholas (Nat Faxon) also continues to flourish as they support each other in their endeavours both inside and outside the workplace. And then there’s Joel Kim Booster as Molly’s trusty assistant Nicholas, always ready with a cutting quip or a kale smoothie spiked with gin.
Loot, created by Matt Hubbard and Alan Yang benefits from feeling of a piece with Parks & Recreation, albeit with a slightly edgier tone. Rudolph is of course a character comedy powerhouse, but the rest of the cast are right there with her (shout out to Scott, who pops up from time to time as Novak, a truly ridiculous spoof on the likes of Elon Musk and co.) And the show as a whole feels friendly and comforting, grounded in personalities over simply zany comedy (though it also does well at that). I’m very glad to see Loot back –– long may it pay off!
The first two episodes of Loot Season 2 are on Apple TV+ now. A new episode will debut weekly on Wednesdays through May 29. I’ve seen the whole season.