It can feel a little unbelievable at times, even within the horror genre, but I still consider this my top pick from films released in the 1970s. The story begins somewhat obscurely in a Roman hospital, and then Gregory Peck and his wife, Lee Remmick, move to London where he’ll serve as the US Ambassador – accompanied by their infant son, "Damien" (and the predictable screeching violins). Shortly after they arrive, their nanny dies by suicide—in quite a disturbing manner—which paves the way for “Mrs. Baylock” (played with menace by Billie Whitelaw) to appear. As the boy grows older, and influenced by some truly dreadful predictions from Patrick Troughton’s character, Father Brennan, Peck gradually comes to believe that something isn't right about him. The question is, can he stop the evil residing inside this child? Richard Donner does a solid job of creating and maintaining a feeling of danger almost from the very beginning, with help from a Jerry Goldsmith score featuring unsettling choral singing and strings that will have you hiding behind the sofa. Peck’s performance isn't his strongest, and some moments—particularly the scene in the graveyard with the dog-like creatures reminiscent of *The Hound of the Baskervilles*—require a big suspension of disbelief, but generally it grabs your attention and holds it. I was let down by how the film concluded; I don’t understand why the police felt the need to pursue him.

Source on TMDB