31 Scary Movies: ‘The Omen’

“The Omen” (1976) – Butch from “The Little Rascals”.  Nellie from “Little House on the Prairie”.  Farkus from “A Christmas Story”. These three rotten children inflicted much misery on Alfalfa, Laura Ingalls and Ralphie, respectively, over the years.  Proven by scores of on-screen threats, acts of deception and taunts, they are three of Hollywood’s most famous bad kids.  As callous as they were, Damien (Harvey Stephens) from “The Omen” probably tops the list as the most malevolent child in film or television history. Not by his own doing, but through the…

31 Scary Movies: ‘Black Christmas’

“Black Christmas” (1974) – A group of sorority girls hope to spend a joyous holiday over Christmas break, but a maniac – with unknown motivations – attempts to murder them one by one.  Director Bob Clark gives “Black Christmas” a raw and unsettling edge by employing shifty, handheld camerawork that walks up and down empty stairs and hallways of a 4,000 square foot house, and many times without an accompanying score. John Carpenter’s “Halloween” (1978) might be considered the first mainstream slasher film, but director Clark’s picture arrived in theatres…