The Final Conflict Movie Review

The third installment in the Omen series -- and popularly referred to as just The Omen III instead of its "official" name -- wraps up the story of Damien Thorn, starting where we expect and finishing up with its logical conclusion. Easily the weakest entry in the trilogy (a fourth was made -- for cable -- but it's widely ignored as non-canon), it's lacks the thrills of the first two entries, but it's still a watchable experience.

Damien is now grown up, and being played by a creepy Sam Neill with such menacing fire that it's a miracle his career recovered to the point where he'd become mostly known for blonde "good guys." Having run Thorn Industries for seven years, Damien uses his powers to coerce the American ambassador to England into committing suicide, then finagles the appointment for himself. Exactly why he needs such a job is never explained, but it does bring the story full circle, as Damien's original dad in The Omen held that very position.

What follows is -- of course -- priests uncovering the daggers that are the only things that can kill Damien, then attempting to use them -- with pathetic results -- to kill him. One by one they're done away with, leaving it up to TV anchorwoman Kate Reynolds (Lisa Harrow) to do the deed. Unfortunately she is also having sex with Damien, yet thinks nothing of his sleeping on the floor in a pentagram. Ah, young love...

The biggest letdown in Final Conflict is the killings. The innovative "accidents" and Rube Goldberg-like mystery deaths of the first two films are largely absent here. Instead we get one guy who slips from a rafter. Two men who hide in a pit after being chased by animated lightning, only to find a metal grate magically move to cover them up. Dogs attacking another unfortunate fellow. Yawn.

With the exception of the suicide that opens the film, Conflict is devoid of many thrills. The closest it gets is near the end, when the second coming of Jesus is born in England, and Damien sends his minions out to kill all the male children born on the appointed day. Neill is fire and brimstone incarnate, but he can't seem to seal the deal.