The Damned

I struggle to say anything really "bad" about this movie. I LOVED the movie for about 1hr and 26mins. Those final ~3ish minutes kind of soiled the entire movie for me.

I felt like the movie was VERY well done for what they were working with. It counts as an indie Irish folk horror film and in that regard, this movie is AMAZING. The acting was very well done, I felt like I couldn't find a single actor/actress that didn't feel like they weren't giving everything they had for their role.

The scenery in this movie as well, BEAUTIFUL. Filming in Iceland was an outstanding choice because every outdoor shot in this movie is gorgeous.

The jumpscares, though not plentiful, are set up and land very well for the average viewer, barring two really cheap jumpscares but that's allowed.

I enjoyed how the plot moved forward naturally, and it felt like none of the characters decisions were made in typical horror movie fashion aka "without a brain".

This movie also made me feel really bad for pretty much the entire crew. I felt like, even though they did NEARLY everything right, they still were punished for it. I understand that they set the tone early by explaining the folklore that these spirits are just full of rage with how their endings came to be, but it still felt bad having seen the characters do everything right and still get punished for making the correct choices. It felt like there was nothing they could do to stop what happened, and that left a bleak and sorrowful feeling during the entire movie. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING HOWEVER AND ADDED TO MY ENJOYMENT OF THE MOVIE.

That all comes, in my own opinion, undone with the ending. To keep the review spoiler free, I won't spoil the ending but, it did leave me feeling a little bit like "why did we do all of this"/"how did we not know this by now".

Overall however, the ending, after much consideration, wasn't enough to sway the rating or drop it too much, this is still a fantastic film and if you are a horror fan you should definitely watch this one. ESPECIALLY if you like the folk horror genre. Solid 7/10 when ranked with horror movie

Pros Solid acting Beautiful scenery Good jumpscares Good plot Great Sound design Good emotion

Cons Bad ending.

I watched the Icelandic film 🇮🇸 The Damned (2024) in theaters this evening. The storyline follows an Icelandic fishing team that is hunkered down in a shack together trying to survive winter. One day they see a crashed ship in the water with an abandoned crew with nothing they can do to rescue them. After a few days they head out to see if they can obtain supplies and set off a series of unfortunate events that sets a curse on their camp.

This picture is directed by Thordur Palsson, in his directorial debut, and stars Odessa Young (Assassination Nation), Joe Cole (One of these Days), Lewis Gribben (T2 Trainspotting), Rory McCann (Game of Thrones) and Mícheál Óg Lane (The Guard).

The Damned is one of those movies that feels like it's missing an ingredient from beginning to end. The atmosphere and desperation of the circumstances is perfectly established with the attire, settings and backdrops. There's good use of background music to establish the drama and intensity. The movie does start with a bang. I'll also say eels aren't used enough in horror movies. There's awesome use of an ax and a fantastic throat slash. There's a strong buildup to the final scene, but the conclusion was disappointing.

In conclusion, The Damned has more than enough going on to keep your attention, but doesn't live up to its potential. I would score this a 6.5/10.

An ice-cold folk horror that's as steeped in Scandinavian myth as it is enveloped in the freezing climate, The Damned is patient in its approach, measured in its execution, and makes excellent use of the elements to deliver a silently unnerving & incessantly disquieting chiller that sustains its mystery & foreboding aura with ease and is also steered by strong inputs from its committed cast.

Written & directed by Tholdur Palsson in his feature film debut, the story unfolds in 19th century Icelandic village caught in the midst of a cruel winter and follows a widow tasked with a difficult choice. The setup is terrific, immersing us into its isolated setting effortlessly, and quietly brings claustrophobia into play as weather worsens & death grips the town. Finely scripted too but the ending is a mixed bag.

The remote Icelandic location, harsh surroundings, wintry ambience, ominous mood, controlled camerawork, glacial pace & tense score, all contribute in creating an environment of existential dread which is then elevated by sincere performances. The tension & suspense is bone-chilling at times and the sinister feeling not only lingers but it also gets under the skin every now n then. The finale however didn't work for me.

Overall, The Damned does capture the eeriness of an evil lurking in the shadows but then also doesn't do much with that often repeated setup. Palsson's direction exhibits plenty of promise but his script required more fine tuning, for the ending doesn't provide a satisfying payoff. The slow-burn narrative, terrific use of atmosphere & sturdy work from the cast help make the ride interesting but this Icelandic horror had much more to offer.

It's been a while since I've watched a horror movie, but today I decided to fill the gap, because it's rare to find a film that takes you back to such an early era. The action takes place in 1860 in an Icelandic fishing village lost in the ice. The nearest settlement is a three-day journey through snow-capped mountains, a real hell. The landscapes, especially the bay, emphasize the isolation of this place. Add to this the mystical folklore inspired by Scandinavian mythology and the eternal theme of lack of resources - and you get an eerie, disturbing atmosphere. From the first minutes, you feel how isolation, ominous tales around the campfire and the shadow of death weigh on the characters. The situation is fragile, as if ready to collapse at any moment. The film impressed with the choice of place and time, stunning scenery, impeccable camera work and acting. The plot keeps you in suspense until the end, although the ending seemed a little overloaded. A solid eight!

GenX reporting-in from the first screening at our AMC. I see almost every horror film. This is the first of 2025, an Icelandic horror about malnurishment, regrets, ghost stories, alcoholism, and fisherman. The cinematography, scenery, costumes and acting are all Very well done, A++. Decent gore. I could understand most of the dialogue, but I wish my theatre would offer open captions for films like this. If I was at home I would pause and rewind parts. It's very good, but not good enough to view it again. In the end it falls short in its climax. Some of the horror is sliced-in or not on screen for long, cut short. But honestly we would be complaining if this film was longer, as its the perfect run time for a slow burner like this; Less boring that way. The landscape and vibe is haunting. Do you have to see this film in the theatre? A: No. If you have A-List or Movie Pass and extra time definitely check it out. It's almost great 6/10 for costumes, scenery and acting.