Damien the Antichrist, now thirteen years old, finally learns of his destiny under the guidance of an unholy disciple of Satan. Meanwhile dark forces begin to eliminate all those who suspect the child’s true identity.
Two years after the huge success of the first film came this sequel, it was inevitable really.
We now see ‘Damien’ in his teenage years and enrolled in military school, he’s also been adopted by his Uncle. Unfortunately “Omen” writer David Seltzer refused to write the screenplay as he had no interest in writing sequels. Years later, he commented that if he had written it, he would have set it the day after the first film ended, with Damien living in the White House. I would’ve loved to have seen that.
You sort of have to let the plot holes pass you by to enjoy this sequel but there’s nothing too major to worry about, although it is irritating not knowing what properly happened between the last film and his life now. What happened between him and the President? Has he killed again since? These are just some of my questions.
We see Jonathan Scott-Taylor take on the infamous role of ‘Damien’, I’m not saying he’s a bad actor but he’s not helped by a sub-standard script. Interestingly William Holden was the original choice to star in the first film but turned it down as he didn’t want to star in a picture about the devil. “The Omen” went on to become a huge hit and Holden made sure he did not turn down the part in this sequel.
Don Taylor took over director duties, I wish Richard Donner would’ve returned as he did an absolutely amazing job and he was actually set to return but he was busy filming the “Superman” film. In hindsight you have to say he made the right decision really, not to take anything away from Taylor though who did an adequate job.
“Damien – Omen II” isn’t a bad sequel, it takes more of a fun route than it’s serious predecessor but what else did you really expect?
Miscellaneous facts about the film:
The film’s budget was $5.2 million, twice that of The Omen (1976).
William Holden’s only horror film.
When Harvey Bernhard had finished writing the script and was given the green light to start the production, the first person he contacted was Jerry Goldsmith because of the composer’s busy schedule. Bernhard also felt that Goldsmith’s music for The Omen (1976) was the highest point of that movie, and that without Goldsmith’s music this sequel would never be successful.
Lee Grant had been a big fan of The Omen (1976) and enthusiastically jumped at the chance to appear in the sequel.
Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris was inspired to make the song “The Number of the Beast” after getting a nightmare from watching Damien: Omen II.
Don Taylor replaced director Mike Hodges as a result of creative differences. However, the few scenes Hodges directed were kept, like the scenes at the factory and at the military school, and also the dinner where Aunt Marion shows her concern about Damien.
The Thorn Mansion is the Lake Forest Academy (formerly the Armour Estate) in Lake Forest, Illinois. All exteriors had to be shot in the back garden of the academy/estate because the school had erected a very modern structure in front of the old estate.
The skating scene was filmed on Catfish Lake in Eagle River, Wisconsin using local children as the skaters. The local paramedics were standing by in case any of the children fell through the ice.
The cadets at the military academy were real students at the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin military academy the film was shooting at.
The final cinema film of Lew Ayres.
Film debut of Meshach Taylor
At 59 William Holden was only eight years younger than Sylvia Sidney who played Aunt Marion.
Much of the film takes place at Davidson Military Academy which was started by the fictitious Harlan Page Davidson. The appellation “David’s Son” is frequently used in the Bible to denote Jesus Christ, Damien’s polar opposite.
Director Don Taylor was a former actor and had indeed acted alongside his good friend William Holden in Stalag 17 (1953).
After the doctor discovers Damien’s blood sample to be the same as a jackal, it becomes obvious that his life will soon end as do all who discover the truth about Damien. In the elevator scene, the doctor asks to see a colleague on a lower floor. As he walks to the elevator, it is shown that he is on floor 23. He presses the button for floor 16. Ultimately he winds up on the 3rd floor, where he is ultimately bisected (meaning cut in two). He begins at 23- 2×3=6, desires to go to 16- 1×6=6, and winds up on 3 where he if cut in 2 (3×2=6). 6-6-6.
“Davidson Military Academy” is really Northwestern Military and Naval Academy in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and has the same insignia. This school merged with St. John’s Military Academy in 1995 to be St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin.
Even though the original “Omen” star Gregory Peck and “Damien: Omen II” star William Holden never acted together, they still portrayed brothers in “The Omen” series.
Lew Ayres performed most of the stunt of his watery death himself up until the point where his character disappears under the ice. Lee Grant tried to persuade the veteran actor not to do it but he was determined to give it a shot.
For the Joan Hart death scene, food was placed in the stunt woman’s wig to attract the bird.
When its Mark’s birthday and he cuts the cake he cuts into the lake on the birthday cake which foreshadows what happens to bill in the next scene when he drowns in a frozen lake.
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