‘The Damned’ Is a Ruthlessly Effective Chiller [Review]

The Damned takes place entirely in a remote fishing colony in Iceland but naturally, since this is a horror movie, the cold is the least of the characters’ problems. Thordur Palsson’s impressively pared-back movie, which he co-wrote with Jamie Hannigan, takes “slow burn” to a whole new level. There might even be those who grow impatient with it early on, given viewers’ increasingly short attention spans, but give yourself over to the film’s dark charms and you’ll soon be entranced by it in a similar manner to The Witch or Midsommar. Suffice it to say that the vibes are off from the get-go, and that’s a massive point in The Damned’s favor.

Odessa Young is Eva, who’s one of just two women living and working in this isolated community (the other cooks for everyone) but has risen to the ranks of pseudo-leader following the death of her husband. Clearly, the men hold a kind of begrudging respect for Eva, but they also don’t really have the energy to stage a coup since rations are so low and it’s increasingly tough to find food in such harsh conditions. One day, their luck appears to change following the discovery of a mysterious ship that’s crashed just offshore, leading to a bounty of food. However, the sailors in question aren’t as dead as they initially seem and, after venturing out to take a look, a violent skirmish ensues with deadly consequences.

It’s this choice that seems to damn the villagers (hence the movie’s title) since things immediately start to go very wrong for them. But it’s also presented as an impossible decision in itself because no matter what Eva and her team choose to do, it’s clear that they’re doomed. Palsson and Hannigan consistently demonstrate an enormous amount of empathy for their tortured heroine, whom Young portrays as a reluctant leader but certainly not a wallflower – she delivers orders confidently, and with purpose, and isn’t afraid to fight back. Although there’s a sense that Eva is in over her head tackling a role that she essentially inherited from her late husband, once everything starts going to hell, it’s clear that none of the men have any idea how to proceed otherwise anyway.

The Damned is sparse, a shrewdly observed chiller shot entirely on location in Iceland with naturalistic performances from actors who wear little, if any, makeup and are often covered up with tons of layers. It feels increasingly secluded and otherworldly thanks to the incredible vistas, which are so perfect they almost resemble matte paintings. The sound design is hugely evocative while the score is minimal, putting all the emphasis on what’s happening on screen and keeping the focus on the small cast of characters. Young is wonderful in the lead role, and she’s ably supported by Joe Cole as a down-home fisherman with whom Eva has a moment that could arguably suggest some romantic feelings on both sides. Palsson doesn’t overplay his hand, but the two actors have good chemistry, and their interactions feel nicely unforced.

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The cinematography by Eli Arenson (who also lensed the similarly bleak Lamb) makes great use of the shadows dancing across the walls, especially when the Draugur (a kind of demon, or zombie, with its roots in real-life Nordic folk tales) is lurking in the corner. The design of the creature is cool, even if the CGI, as we’ve come to expect, doesn’t fully convince. Thankfully, Palsson uses it sparingly, choosing to show the Draugur’s face full-on in just one sequence. Interiors are lit solely by candlelight and the glow of a roaring fire in the corner, creating the perfect ambience for telling ghost stories and, as it turns out, for actual spirits to arrive. The Damned has a similarly chilly vibe to The Terror (whose sea-faring characters were also menaced by a less-than-convincing computer-generated monster) with a distinct lack of jump scares or gross-out gore.

As always, blood looks fantastic splattered across fresh snow, the morning light hitting it just right. But the most horrific moment in the entire movie occurs when a dead man’s belly is slashed open, leading to an onslaught of squirming eels and intestines. It’s worth noting that The Damned doesn’t venture into body-horror territory again. Instead, there’s lots of drawing the camera back gradually to reveal what the characters are looking at in horror, which fortunately never feels repetitive due to the sheer wealth of different terrors inflicted upon this poor fishing village.

As Palsson’s feature directorial debut, The Damned is hugely impressive from both a technical and narrative standpoint. Much of the intrigue stems from whether the collective is actually cursed or if what’s happening to them is simply a result of bad luck or even mania driven by their hunger, the freezing climate, and the ongoing impact of isolation. The movie is at its strongest when placing Young front and center, the camera focusing on her face as Eva desperately tries to make sense of what’s happening. It won’t be for everyone, but for those who can get on its uniquely chilly wavelength, The Damned has much to explore in the darkness.

WICKED RATING: 8/10
Director(s): Thordur Palsson
Writer(s): Jamie Hannigan, Thordur Palsson
Stars: Odessa Young, Joe Cole, Lewis Gribben
Release date: January 3, 2025 (US), January 10, 2025 (UK and Ireland)
Language: English
Run Time: 89 minutes

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