The Damned

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.

This 2024 co-production between Ireland and Iceland shows it's strength in its cinematography. It has beauty within the frigid temperaturea and stark landscape. It's storyline begins begin well with the first and second act, great introduction of hearing a woman's oral storytelling to the main cast.

Odessa Young, delivers a strong performance as the widower of a ship owner and its seaman crew. The rest of the films is a play of what you see as folk story to answer what it just human tragedy and conflict. Director Thordur Palsson co-scripted with Jamie Hanniga. Aside from Young, it stars Joe Cole and Lewis Gribben as the widow's sea crew.

Many reviews are in sort of agreement that in the films third act, it has flaws. I see it as a interesting plot twist or just fact about the life at sea. Palsson's direction captured the seafarer's concerns: about having the provisions, managing one's sanity on the boat whether its darkness or blinded by northern wind blasts.

As far as this film being marketed as a "folk horror" film, like others film it plays on surreal effects, then on just the folkloric. For the average horror fan, the film may not much to deliver. But for those seeking a steady story and outlook to landscape scenes - it's for you.

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.

What a fantastic kickoff for horror movies in 2025. This psychological horror flick is expertly crafted and features a strong female lead set against the backdrop of an Icelandic fishing village. The film opens with a group of fishermen enjoying dinner in a cozy cottage while a local woman shares a folk tale that sets the stage for the eerie journey ahead. It's got that slow-burn, atmospheric kind of horror, focusing on a folklore creature called the Draugr. The cast is amazing, with Odessa Young delivering a standout performance. The cinematography is stunning, capturing the freezing, snowy Icelandic landscape near the beach. Those exterior shots are just gorgeous to look at and perfectly convey the film's mood and themes. The music is spot-on, and the whole production is top-notch.

The Draugr seems to represent strangers in this wild setting where resources are scarce and food is limited, forcing characters into tough and traumatic decisions. But this movie goes beyond just showing how unforgiving nature can be; it digs into human nature itself-relationship dynamics, loss, grief, guilt, trauma, survival versus morality-the nature of evil, superstition and folklore, female agency, and what leadership truly means. It really explores how isolation and harsh conditions can play tricks on our minds and how we struggle to deal with hard truths. The themes here are just fantastic.

There's a line in the movie that really stuck with me: "The living are always more dangerous than the dead." I couldn't agree more. And by the way, that's a solid tip for all the horror filmmakers out there!

In summary, I highly recommend this movie to everyone-not just those who love psychological horror. It's such a breath of fresh air in today's horror scene and offers a really satisfying experience overall. Great performances from the entire cast, especially Odessa Young. Make sure to give it a watch without expecting it to be super scary!

The film is very atmospheric, filled with dread, frigidness, and quite unsettling. It follows a crew on a coastal Icelandic fishing outpost that comes across another shipwrecked crew. They face a damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don't scenario (no pun intended); saving this crew would mean jeopardizing their own safety, but not saving the other crew would be morally wrong. The decision they make haunts them.

The cinematography is very nice, highlighting the Icelandic wintry landscapes, and the sound design is effective. While watching, it feels like you're actually there at the outpost with the characters in the dead of winter.

Odessa Young is great as the lead not only of the film itself, but also of the crew within the film. She's quietly and subtly bold as a widow coming to grips with leading an all-male crew of the coastal fishing outpost inherited from her late husband. Young has good presence here as we follow her going through something sinister that she's in over her head to understand, balancing the terror she's experiencing while also trying to remain a competent leader for her crew. The rest of the ensemble is good too, particularly Cole and Finneran. You really feel the group's esprit de corps and camaderie, which really adds to the film as we see a sinister presence proceed to wreak havoc.

While the story itself is compelling, the film has one issue, and it's a big one: the pacing; which is odd to say since the film is actually not very long, at just 1 hr 29 mins. In large part this is because the film takes place entirely in one small location and it follows the lead primarily, while the other characters are on the sidelines. At the same time, this seclusion adds greatly to the film's atmosphere. So perhaps while many may find this film to be glacial in its pace at times, others very well may appreciate it and take the film to be a slow burn, or a slow thaw, no pun intended.

But however you take this film, it is certainly worth checking out, if only for the great acting and isolating, cold atmosphere.