The Damned is a 2024 psychological horror film set in 19th-century Iceland.
The movie was directed by Thordur Palsson – making his feature directorial debut – from a screenplay by Jamie Hannigan, from a story by Palsson. It was produced by Conor Barry, Tim Headington, Kamilla Hodol, Emilie Jouffroy, Nate Kamiya, John Keville and Theresa Steele Page.
The Elation Pictures-Join Motion Pictures-Ley Line Entertainment-Netop Films-Wild Atlantic Pictures co-production stars Odessa Young, Joe Cole, Siobhan Finneran and Rory McCann.
Plot:
In the 19th century, a widow is pressed to make an impossible decision when, during an especially cruel winter, a ship sinks off the coast of her impoverished Icelandic fishing village. Any attempt to rescue the survivors of the wreck risks further depleting the supplies of the already starving villagers…
Reviews:
“If Thordur Palsson can continue to direct and write the way that he did in The Damned for a feature, he will become a force to be reckoned with in the industry for years to come. There is something holistically terrifying and daunting about the world he crafts, which Odessa Young and Joe Cole magnificently bring to life. The Damned truly is one of the most haunting, psychologically damning movies to come out in quite some time…” ★★★★½ Elements of Madness
“It’s not a long movie, clocking in at just under an hour and a half, but the introduction feels rushed and could use more fleshed-out exposition. It feels like it starts in the middle, and because of that, the rest of the movie drags a bit. If the beginning had been better established, the actual horror would have felt more balanced and less of a slog.” ★★★★ Flix Chatter
“Young is fantastic in her lead role as Eva, a widow who is in charge of the lives and livelihood of her mostly male crew, with all of the pressure that it brings, and the difficult decisions she must make once the differing beliefs of the group’s members begin wreaking havoc […] The Damned is a masterful horror film that unveils its secrets at a superb pace, combining the fear of The Other with Icelandic mythology and folklore. Strongly recommended for fright-fare aficionados of all stripes…” Horror Fuel
“It’s like the feel does a solid job of building tension, yet the payoff falls short of delivering on that tension. In the end, The Damned makes for a fascinating portrayal ofregret, madness, and humanity’s flawed nature. It doesn’t consistently deliver on its premise, but its visuals are a feast to the eyes, and the cast is incredibly engaging, led by a stellar Odessa Young.” Loud and Clear
“As well-sustained as The Damned is, it doesn’t quite pay off with as much impact as it could. The final sequence, and its explanation, are pretty much what you expect they’ll be given what has come before, and the film concludes leaving you wishing for something more in the resolution. Up until that point, though, The Damned delivers a gripping survival saga that’s shivery in more ways than one.” Rue Morgue
“Its resolution might not be the most surprising, but it plays well into the overarching theme. Just like it doesn’t take much for a human psyche to start breaking down, it doesn’t really take much to get invested in a movie these days – some impressively lit snow and Carpenter references might do the trick.” Screen Anarchy
YouTube reviews:
Trailer:
Release:
January 3rd, 2025, Vertical theatrical release in select US locations.
