The First Omen: Legitimately Creepy (and the Sound Design!)

Okay, so I just got back from seeing "The First Omen," and I honestly wasn't expecting much. Prequels, especially to iconic horror films, are usually a letdown, right? But this... this actually worked for me. It’s genuinely unsettling, not just relying on cheap jump scares. The atmosphere is thick, Roman streets at night feel oppressive, and Nell Tiger Free is fantastic as Margaret. You really believe her descent into madness (or is it clarity?). But what REALLY stood out to me, as always, was the sound design. There's this recurring, low-frequency hum throughout the film that just gets under your skin. It's almost subliminal, you almost don't notice it consciously, but it adds SO much to the tension. And then there's a particular scene, without spoiling anything, involving a childbirth sequence... the sound mixing there is just... chef's kiss. Absolutely horrifying and visceral. Sound and FX really elevated the whole experience, making it more disturbing than the visuals alone could have achieved. Visually, the practical effects were also pretty impressive. You can tell they didn't rely too much on CGI, which is always a plus in my book. There's a scene with a distorted face that I’m still trying to reconcile. I do wish the director had explored some themes more deeply, but for a "Omen" prequel, I thought it took some risks and did a solid job building dread. The ending especially gave me chills thinking about it in relation to the original Omen. Overall, I’d say it's worth checking out, especially if you appreciate a good, slow-burn horror movie with killer sound design. I wouldn't call it a perfect film, and I still need to rewatch the original to refresh my memory. But I'M definitely going back to see it again for the sound alone. Anyone else see it? What did you guys think?