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“It
was really important to us to not shy away from the imagery of
the female body,” Stevenson told Reuters, ahead of the film's
premiere in theaters on Friday.
Her vision almost did not materialize, however, when a birthing
scene showing a woman’s vagina was almost taken out.
The graphic scene is what turned the film’s rating from NC-17 to
R due to the body imagery.
It was vital to Stevenson to keep the scene and the R-rating for
a chance to boldly depict a woman's body.
“The shot really encapsulated the themes of the film for us, and
we felt that without this image, the film would be a lesser
version of itself,” she added.
The “Legion” director finds that body horror helps her reconnect
with her body and serves as a reminder that every person’s body
is their own, especially for women often taught to disassociate
with their own physical forms.
20th Century Studios' “The First Omen” follows Margaret, an
American woman training to become a nun at a church in Rome who
discovers a dark secret that catalyzes the birth of the
antichrist.
The film serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror cult-classic
“The Omen” and is the sixth film in the franchise, including
three sequels that explore the devilish antichrist child named
Damien.
Exploring femininity and grotesque imagery was also something
that Nell Tiger Free, who portrays Margaret, embraced.
“Having female-led horror is a wonderful thing to see, and we’re
seeing more of it now, which is great," she told Reuters adding
that having a female director and a female protagonist was a
"nice combination work-wise."
Free felt like she and Stevenson, who both grew up watching “The
Omen” films, were in sync from the get-go when they began
working on the prequel film.
“I trusted her straightaway,” the “Game of Thrones” actor said.
Joining the franchise that both she and Stevenson admire helped
Free immerse herself not only in the role of Margaret, but also
“The Omen” storyline.
“It felt like a big honor to be part of the lore now, part of
the legend,” she said.
(Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross; Editing by Mary
Milliken and Josie Kao)
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