When American diplomat Gregory Peck is told that his son died during childbirth, he agrees to pass off an orphaned boy as his own, unbeknownst to his wife Lee Remnick. Five years later, Peck has been appointed ambassador to the UK where mysterious events spawn around the family, seemingly centered on the child who has been named Damien. This is some great 1970s suspense horror, similar to The Exorcist or The Amityville Horror . It does slog a bit in the middle during a fact-finding trip and doesn’t make nearly enough use of Remnick, but it does make good use of the creepy old English atmosphere and has some rather creative murder scenes. A later career Peck does a fine job carrying the film, gradually changing from a hard nosed non-believer to a knife wielding demon killer.
Oscar Win: Best Music, Original Score
Oscar Nomination: Best Music, Original Song