The Omen (1976)
Long before he made those wacky Lethal Weapon movies, Richard Donner made this thought-provoking, intense horror-thriller. It's about the Antichrist rising to power on earth. Robert Thorne (Gregory Peck) is convinced to switch his baby with another when his child is delivered still-born. This child is named Damien. On his 5th birthday, his nanny commits suicide right in front of everyone. Evidence mounts that Damien is no ordinairy child, and will probably murder his family in order to create "armies on either shore, setting man against his brother, until man exists no more."
While the premise (demonic child) may seem similar to The Exorcist, its approach is very different, and in some cases, The Omen matches or exceeds its predecessor. The music in this film (composed by Jerry Goldsmith) is absolutely phenomonal. It creates the exact moments of suspense necessary, sometimes creating a scare when the visuals suggest none. Not that the actual visuals are shabby. There are some great, tensely directed scenes. All of the deaths in this film are handled with great care, with a rather nasty decapitation a particular stand-out. The acting is fine, though Peck is occasionally overdramatic. The best performance is Billie Whitelaw, as Damien's creepily devoted nanny and 'protector.' A must-own.