By: Jacob Cameron

The Damned is a fusion dance of horror and mystery.  Lying in the same territory occupied by films like The Thing and 2021’s The Night House.  The Damned is not nearly as good as similar offerings; but it is still effective in short bursts.  It’s a film that succeeds in creating a chilling atmosphere both in the figurative and literal sense.  But it was a struggle to connect on an emotional level with any of the characters.

The Damned takes place in a 19th century fishing village in Iceland.  It follows a crew of fishermen headed by a young widow named Eva, played by Odessa Young.  The crew witness a shipwreck off the coast of their village, and in an agonizing decision, Eva refuses to send her crew to save the wrecked sailors.  Throughout the coming days, Eva’s crew is taken out systematically by an unseen, yet lethal, force.  

The biggest positive that this movie has going is the atmosphere.  As mentioned, the film is set in Iceland and it shows how the characters react to the bitter cold temperatures.  It also adds to the effect when you learn that the film was shot on location.  The Icelandic wilderness serves as a beautiful and deadly backdrop.  A comparison could be made between the film and The Thing, as mentioned, due to the fact that the cold temperatures weigh heavily on the minds of the characters.  

The main star of the film is Odessa Young and she does a fine job. Because of how little we know about the remaining characters, she is the most interesting character by default. One of the fishermen named Daniel, played by Joe Cole, is second-best in terms of interest. The character depth, or lack of it, throws a wet blanket on any chance of emotional interest.

It seems that the most interesting part of these fishermen is that they sing sea shanties rather well. Along with burying dead bodies in a certain fashion in accordance with myths passed between sailors. There is potential for something interesting when it comes to deeper themes. It seems that the force killing off the fishermen is meant to represent the guilt that Eva feels. But that is not communicated well; this in turn doesn’t make for interesting characters or an engaging story.

There is also the fact that there is an attempt made at a twist or a great revelation that ultimately leads to nothing of substance. What this comes down to is Eva having to face the consequences of her actions. A lack of depth combined with a messy execution ultimately leaves you wanting more. There is a general sense of dread and despair in the air when it comes to the cinematography. Which is why it is worth a watch if you’re so inclined. At the end of the day, this is a film that has great ideas but is ultimately handcuffed by a subpar execution.

2.5 Stars