Mike Flanagan Is Right About New Horror Movie Despite Its $35M Box Office

A new horror movie has underperformed by earning a little over $35 million at the box office, but Mike Flanagan‘s review for the film proves it needs more attention. Since Mike Flanagan has helmed several acclaimed horror movies and shows, like The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, Gerald’s Game, and Doctor Sleep, it is not surprising that he is best known for cinematic horror work. However, beyond his filmmaking endeavors, the director also takes a keen interest in exploring several new and old outings of the genre and publicly sharing his discerning taste and insightful critiques.

For instance, Flanagan has previously been vocal about how much he loves Joel Anderson’s obscure horror movie, Lake Mungo. He has also appreciated the works of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead and even invited director Liam Gavin to work with him on The Haunting of Hill House after watching his indie horror movie, A Dark Song. After watching a new horror film, Mike Flanagan took a similar route by not holding himself back from sharing how much he loved it.

Why Mike Flanagan’s Positive Review For The First Omen Is Right

Mike Flanagan’s Opinion On The First Omen Is Shared By Several Critics

The First Omen‘s box office might have been a little underwhelming, but Mike Flanagan could not help but sing praises for the film. The horror auteur commended Arkasha Stevenson for beautifully directing The First Omen and making it “downright SCARY.“ He also took the time (via Letterboxd) to compliment Nell Tiger Free’s performance by calling her portrayal of Margaret in the film “exceptional.” In his brief review, Flanagan also added that he has rarely seen other dead franchises come back to life so “vibrantly” and mentioned that he expects “great things” from Arkasha Stevenson.

Although The First Omen has not been as commercially successful as one would expect it to be, Mike Flanagan is right on the money about its artistic merits, compelling storytelling, and talents involved in its creation. Viewers and critics have almost unanimously agreed that it not only pays homage to the original film by borrowing some crucial narrative elements but also makes the franchise’s overarching narrative more appealing to modern audiences with its disturbing imagery and immersive foreboding atmosphere. Another aspect that makes the film work is its ability to add more layers of realism to the original’s narrative.

When the original 1976 The Omen premiered, and the ominous behind-the-scenes events from its production began to emerge, many started believing The Omen‘s curse was real. This brought some authenticity to the film and made its story seem more real and terrifying. Although no rumors entail The First Omen’s filming and production, it adds even more heft to the original film’s authenticity by blurring the lines between dreams and reality. Owing to this, it is hard to draw a clear line between the supernatural elements and religious conspiracies in the film’s narrative.

The First Omen Deserved A Better Box Office – Why It Underperformed

Competition And The Franchise’s Overestimated Market Value Are Primary Factors

One of the biggest reasons The First Omen failed to leave its mark at the box office is the franchise’s inability to be as appealing as big names like Scream, The Conjuring, and Halloween. In the present horror landscape, where several similar horror flicks like Late Night With The Devil and Immaculate are vying for attention, The First Omen‘s box office also seems to have been hindered by its familiar themes and storytelling devices. A box office performance of $35 million is not necessarily bad.

However, against The First Omen‘s relatively hefty budget of $30 million, it seems like the film and its overarching franchise’s commercial value was overestimated. Mike Flanagan‘s glowing review proves that The First Omen deserves way more attention than it has gotten. Unfortunately, a movie’s overall quality is only one of the many factors that eventually contribute to its commercial success.