From Rosemary’s Baby to The Exorcist to Children of the Corn, the archetype of the evil or possessed child has been an evident part of the horror genre. Richard Donner’s 1976 horror classic, The Omen, is also famous for its evil child, the Son of Satan. However, the character of Damien Thorn in The Omen, stands apart from these other popular demonic children.
In the film, after Katherine Thorn (Lee Remick) delivers a stillborn baby at the hospital, her husband Robert (Gregory Peck) adopts a young baby boy unbeknownst to his wife. As their son Damien begins to grow older, a series of mysterious deaths and events begin to follow the Thorn family. A priest, Father Brennan, reveals to Robert that Damien is the son of Satan, the Antichrist. He also reveals that Katherine is pregnant and Damien will kill her new child, along with both Katherine and Robert. As more people around the family begin to die, Robert investigates the true background of Damien while coming face to face with evil.
Growing up, I always loved The Omen and the character of Damien Thorn. I found him to be such a different character compared to the other evil children depicted in horror movies. With little dialogue and simple stares, he could capture my attention in a second. And although Damien screams and physically attacks his mother at the sight of a Espicopal church and has tantrums typical of a young boy, he embodies a quiet villainy that is as haunting as it is compelling. Throughout the entirety of The Omen, Damien hardly says any other words besides “mommy” and “daddy”. His mere presence keeps viewers on edge.
In The Exorcist, the character of Regan MacNeil represents a more overt and visceral form of possession. Regan’s transformation from a young girl to a vessel for demonic forces is physically and emotionally intense, with dramatic changes in her appearance, behavior, and language. Similarly, in Children of the Corn the monstrous children of Gatlin are depicted as the primary antagonists. Led by Isaac and his subordinate Malachai, the children capture and brutally murder adults in the town and put them on crosses as human sacrifices. Characters such as Regan and Isaac openly display their monstrous nature and are vocal about their violent intentions.
In one scene in The Omen, Katherine decides to take Damien on a visit to the zoo. As the mother-son duo strolls and drives through the park, they encounter an array of different kinds of animals. However, with just a mere gaze at the giraffes, Damien sends all of them running away with fright. The unsettling power of Damien becomes even more apparent when he looks at a large group of baboons only to have them become increasingly agitated. The baboons storm the Thorn’s car while screeching and pounding at the windows.
In another scene, Katherine is tending to one of her ceiling plants by standing on an uneven table a little too close to the railing. The scene repeatedly cuts back between shots of Katherine, her son Damien riding a tricycle around his bedroom, and the malevolent facial expressions of Mrs. Baylock, Damien’s nanny. Mrs. Baylock opens the door to Damien’s room, enabling him to ride straight down the hallway towards Katherine. Damien rides his tricycle directly into Katherine, pushing her over the railing. Damien purposely attempts to kill his mother. Yet, he never says a word. As he rides his tricycle, the film masterfully plays on the concept of the “demonic child,” subverting traditional perceptions of childhood innocence. He casts only a gaze at his mother as she hangs from the indoor balcony.
Coming after the successes of The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby, as well as being one of the first representations of a demonic child in the horror genre, the character of Damien Thorn captivated audiences with his chilling portrayal of evil incarnate. His sinister presence and subtle actions left an indelible mark on viewers, cementing his status as an iconic figure in a genre that loves its creepy children.
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