Film Review: The Omega Code (1999)

Amoong all the late 1990s films that tried to exploit anxieties and great expectations over the approaching Millennium one that stands out, although not in the best way, is The Omega Code, 1999 religious thriller directed by Rob Marcarelli. The plot is based on the idea that whoever controls Jersualem during Last Days would control the world. The key for that is hidden in the Bible via the special code that allows insight into future events. In Jerusalem rabbi (played by Julius Mandel) finally manages to decode the text before being murdered. At the same time, Biblical code became object of interest by protagonist Gillen Lane (played by Casper Van Dien), popular psychologist and motivational speaker who considers himself to be a Bible expert despite his outspoken atheism. At one party he meets Cassandra Barashe (played by Catherine Oxenberg), television reporter that would introduce him to Stone Alexander (played by Michael York), tycoon and philanthropist who is also interested in Bible code. Due to his respectable reputation, Alexander recently became Chairman of European Union. Alexandre wants to use this position to finally broker comprehensive peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians. Lane agrees to become his spokeperson, but soon afterwards begins to experience nightmares and, gradually, begins to question Alexandre’s true motives.

Few films can make you say to yourself “They can’t be serious” as The Omega Code can. What was advertised as and began as some sort of techno thriller with some religious overtones quickly turns into rather crude religious propaganda. The propaganda itself isn’t the problem, but abysmally low quality of work invested into it is. This might not be that surprising, because film wasn’t produced by major Hollywood studio or experienced film makers. Instead, it was a work of film division of Trinity Broadcasting Network, founded by Pentecostal minister Paul Crouch, who also wrote the script’s novelisation. The basic plot is close to the millenarianist concepts and scenarios that were popular in Evangelical Christian circles in USA during the last decades of 20th Century - the final battle between Good and Evil will be fought in Jerusalem, the main adversary will be Antichrist coming from European Union and he would be able to deceive the world due to heathen Jews and Muslims and heretical Papists and Orthodox Christians being unable to accept true word of God. While this concept might not sit well outside Evangelical circles, it might have been used for good film. The Omega Code is anything but. It is made by people who did their best to hide any artistic talent they had. Casper Van Dien, who had rather decent role as protagonist of Starship Troopers, is completely bland and unconvincing here. Even veteran Michael York, who had his share of good roles even in 1990s, is simply terrible as his main adversary. Catherine Oxenberg, best known for playing princesses and high society women in 1980s television, is also completely wasted in The Omega Code; on the other hand, she and Van Dien fell in love at the set and later got married in real life, so her appearance in this film wasn’t completely in vain. Despite low budget and abysmal quality of direction and script, actually had more decent results at box office, mostly due to effective promotion campaign for the viewers of Trinity Broacdasting Network. In 2001 a sequel titled Meggido: The Omega Code 2 was produced.

RATING: 2/10 (-)

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