6.66 out of 10; EXCLUSIVE: ORIGINAL DAMIEN GIVES HIS VERDICT ON NEW OMEN..

IN 1976, child actor Harvey Stephens terrified a generation of film fans as the devil's spawn in The Omen.

Today Harvey, 35, runs a chauffeur firm in East London. He lives in Kent with his wife of four years, Emma, also 35, and their three-year-old daughter, Gracie. As a remake of his horror classic hits cinemas tomorrow with Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick playing the Antichrist, Harvey gives his verdict on the new film.

'WHEN I heard they were remaking The Omen I really didn't think it was a good idea. The original was a classic that can't be improved. Plus we all know that remakes usually turn out to be rubbish.

When I starred in the film I didn't realise I'd still be talking about it 30 years later. I was only five when it was made and to me it was like a big adventure.

Today it's not something I speak about if I can help it because it's in the past and not who I am anymore.

I think the new film is a bit slow for the first 20 minutes and they skimmed over a couple of the big scenes.

One of the best bits in the original was when Damien got taken to a safari park and all the baboons started freaking out. There's a similar scene in a zoo in the new one but they should've made it longer.

My biggest criticism is the decision not to use the original score. The music - Ave Satani - won the composer Jerry

Goldsmith an Oscar and really ramped up the threatening atmosphere. It's daft not to use it again and the film suffers.

I thought it might be strange seeing someone else playing Damien but little Seamus does a sterling job.

You can tell he's going to be a great actor if that's the path he chooses, although at times the director is making him try too hard with all those scowls. He looks like he is straining a bit too much but that's not his fault.

I just hope that Seamus enjoys his time in the spotlight and doesn't get too much stick from other kids. I went through years of it. People use the same jokes and it gets really boring.

If I had a pound for every time someone asked if I had a 666 on my head, I'd be rich.

Child actors these days can become big stars although it never happened to me.

I made one more film after The Omen, Gauguin The Savage, which went straight to video, and that was it. There wasn't much demand for a six-year-old actor from Catford. Until now!

I've got a small part in the film playing a reporter. The movie company called me up in September asking if I wanted to make a cameo appearance.

I flew to Prague where they were filming and went on a bit of a bender with my friends from the rugby club the night before, meaning I was really hungover and only had two hours' sleep.

I probably got paid more than I did for the original, which was peanuts.

All in all I came away from the new Omen pleasantly surprised.

It's a good, solid movie and I was thoroughly entertained.

The cast was fantastic and Pete Postlethwaite as the priest Father Brennan was superb. In the original film, the role was played by Patrick Troughton, but Pete was just as good.

In my opinion David Thewlis, playing a photographer, stole the show.

One of the most memorable scenes in The Omen was when his character got decapitated near the end. They've changed the way he died in the new movie but it was still very effective and the film's best scene.

Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles, who play Damien's parents, did a great job too.

Watching them in the movie brought back great memories of my time filming.

I really got on with my co-stars, Gregory Peck and Lee Remick, who played my parents. I'll never forget the scene where my dad's meant to stab me in the church at the end.

People ask if it freaked me out but Gregory was great. He said: "Don't worry, I'm only pretending," and for the rehearsals they used a stick instead of a knife.

Overall, I got the sense the new film was a bit rushed, but then they had to get it into cinemas on June 6, 2006, to tie in with the 666 theme.

I suppose it wouldn't have gone down well if it wasn't ready until the eighth. That said, it's still a pretty good movie - I'd give it 6.66 out of 10.'

[e-mail]

CAPTION(S):

LITTLE DEVIL: Harvey as Antichrist in old Omen' SPAWN AGAIN: Seamus in the remake' FROM STAR TO CARS: Harvey runs own business