THE OMEN - THE OMEN'S ODD LINK TO GIBSON'S PASSION

THE OMEN remake and MEL GIBSON's religious epic THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST share an eerie link - they were both filmed in the Italian town of Matera. Shooting on the horror film, starring LIEV SCHREIBER, JULIA STILES and MIA FARROW, was forced to relocate to Italy when religious leaders in Croatia - the original site of the project - succeeded in persuading politicians to banish the production on the grounds the film dealt with irreligious subject matter. Director JOHN MOORE says, "Unfortunately, they (religious leaders) had sway over the government, and they rescinded our permits."