# A Question About ''The Omen'' (SPOILERS) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 26, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-omen-spoilers/145047 "2002-12-26T23:04:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-omen-spoilers/145047/1 "2002-12-26T23:04:02Z")
In _The Omen_, it’s said that the Anti-Christ has the mark of the beast, and that mark are the numbers ‘666’ somewhere on the body. If so, then what’s up with Father Brennan, the Priest that stalks Robert Thorn? When he dies, it’s revealed that he had the numbers ‘666’ located on him, and Jennings, the David Warner character, says it’s a birthmark. Was it a punishment from God or something? ---
**Author:** ![raisinbread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@raisinbread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raisinbread)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-omen-spoilers/145047/2 "2002-12-26T23:43:33Z")
I really don’t remember such a scene. I still feel sorry for Damien, he was so misunderstood but at least people loved him. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-omen-spoilers/145047/3 "2002-12-27T00:56:14Z")
The whole literalist 666 thing is even muddier in _The Omen_ trilogy than it is in popular culture. Not only does Father Brennan have the mark, but evidently, Jennings (he’s the photographer, right?) does, too. Since predestination is a given within the context of the movie, the mark seems to be an indicator of people who have been singled out as Part of The Plan-- although they are trying to kill Damien, they are helplessly colluding with Fate, or Dark Forces, or what-have-you, you make sure that he ends up in position to be groomed as presidential material. It’s been a decade or so since I’ve screened _The Omen_, so my memory is a little dim. If I remember correctly, though, the only place that you actually _see_ the 666’s is in Jennings photographs. (Along with the photographic artifacts that retroactively seem to suggest the fate that people would meet-- especially mysterious lines through the to-be-impaled Father Brennan.) Possibly the writers wanted to dangle the tantalising possibility that Jennings was playing mind-games…?) [aside] **raisinbread** , do you produce _bloated_ purple prose during Turkey season? [/aside] ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-omen-spoilers/145047/4 "2002-12-27T02:20:26Z")
Father Brennan was part of the Satanist Cult that had delivered Damien & arranged for his adoption, then he repented. I don’t recall Jennings having the 666. I do know it shows up on other Damien disciples in the series. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-omen-spoilers/145047/5 "2002-12-27T02:25:09Z")
Ah, OK. Thanks **FriarTed**. While we’re on **The Omen** , has anyone ever seen that horrible piece of crap **Omen IV** with Damien’s daughter? I’m not surprised that it was a TV movie. As far as sequels go, the second and third **Omen** aren’t that bad. ---
**Author:** ![raisinbread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@raisinbread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raisinbread)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-omen-spoilers/145047/6 "2002-12-27T02:52:34Z")
Yeah, ain’t it grand? And the elder Damien resembles Al Gore.