The Damned (2024 Palsson film)

Last updated

The Damned
Thedamned.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Thordur Palsson
Screenplay byJamie Hannigan
Story byThordur Palsson
Produced by
  • Emilie Jouffroy
  • Kamilla Hodol
  • John Keville
  • Conor Barry
  • Tim Headington
  • Theresa Steele Page
  • Nate Kamiya
Starring
CinematographyEli Arenson
Edited by
Music by Stephen McKeon
Production
companies
Distributed by Vertical
Release dates
  • June 6, 2024 (2024-06-06)(Tribeca)
  • January 3, 2025 (2025-01-03)(United States)
Running time
89 minutes
CountriesUnited Kingdom
Iceland
Ireland
Belgium
United States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.3 million [1]

The Damned is a 2024 internationally co-produced folk horror film [2] written and directed by Thordur Palsson. The movie stars Joe Cole, Odessa Young, and Rory McCann, with Lewis Gribben and Turlough Convery playing supporting roles. Set in the 19th century, the story revolves around a widow facing an agonizing decision during a harsh winter after a shipwreck threatens to deplete the village's already scarce supplies.

Contents

The screenplay was penned by Jamie Hannigan. The film was financed and produced by Elation Pictures in collaboration with John Keville and Conor Barry of Wild Atlantic Pictures, Netop Films, and Ley Line Entertainment. The filming took place in Iceland in 2023, with the project entering post-production in the spring of that year.

The Damned premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, 2024. Before its debut, Vertical Entertainment acquired the North American distribution rights, planning a theatrical release later that year. The film was ultimately released in theaters on January 3, 2025.

Plot

Eva, a young widow in the 19th century, manages a remote winter fishing outpost in an Arctic bay, inherited after her husband Magnus died in a shipwreck on jagged rocks called "the Teeth." The outpost, cut off from the nearest village by a snowbound mountain journey, faces a harsh winter with dwindling supplies. Eva and her crew, led by helmsman Ragnar, have resorted to eating bait as their catch diminishes. One morning, they witness a shipwreck at the Teeth, but with limited resources, Eva reluctantly agrees to leave the survivors to their fate.

Later, a barrel of salt pork from the wreck washes ashore, prompting Eva to lead the crew on a risky nighttime search for more supplies. They recover a crate containing lamp oil and brandy but encounter desperate survivors clinging to the rocks. Chaos ensues as the survivors try to board the crew’s small boat, leading to violence and Ragnar’s death. Despite their efforts, they return with minimal resources and a growing sense of despair.

The next day, bodies from the wreck wash ashore, and strange occurrences begin. One corpse is found with live eels inside its stomach. The crew, wary of Nordic folklore about draugr revenant creatures of hatred takes precautions to prevent them from rising. However, Eva begins experiencing vivid dreams and visions of a dark figure, and the superstitious Helga warns that the draugr must be burned to stop its torment.

After a brief reprieve with a successful catch, disaster strikes again when the fish stores vanish, and Helga goes missing. The crew finds her trail leading to an empty coffin at the burial site. Paranoia and delusions grip the group, culminating in violent confrontations among the remaining members. Eva, determined to end the threat, sets out to confront the draugr.

Eva’s hunt leads to more loss as the fog-covered burial site claims another crew member, and Helga is found frozen to death. Back at the cabin, a possessed Daníel attacks before taking his own life. Eva then encounters the draugr, who drags her into a final confrontation. She manages to shoot the grotesque creature, burn the cabin, and escape, believing the ordeal is over.

A flashback reveals the truth: the draugr was a desperate survivor from the shipwreck. Speaking in Basque, he offered Eva a gold pocket watch and begged for his life. Unable to understand him, Eva shot him, took the watch, and set him on fire, unwittingly creating the creature that haunted her and her crew.

Cast

Production

Thordur Palsson wrote the story and directs, while Jamie Hannigan wrote the screenplay. Emilie Jouffroy and Kamilla Hodol produced for Elation Pictures alongside John Keville and Conor Barry of Wild Atlantic Pictures and Netop Films. ish. [3] Producers also include Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page and Nate Kamiya producing for Ley Line Entertainment. [4]

Odessa Young was cast as Eva in 2021. [3] [5] By April 2023 the cast also included Joe Cole, Lewis Gribben, Siobhan Finneran, Francis Magee, Rory McCann, Turlough Convery, Mícheál Óg Lane and Andrean Sigurgeirsson. [6]

Filming took place in Iceland in 2023 and the project entered post-production in spring 2023. [7]

Release

It had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, 2024. [8] Prior to, Vertical acquired North American distribution rights to the film, planning to release it later in 2024. [9] The film was released in theaters on January 3, 2025. [10]

Reception

In the United States, the film made $769,721 from 732 theaters in its opening weekend. [11]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 90% of 69 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.5/10.The website's consensus reads: "Heavy on mood and existential terror, The Damned's patient approach to horror pays off with cerebral chills." [12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 64 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favourable" reviews.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Draugr</span> Undead creature from Norse mythology

The draugr or draug is a corporeal undead creature from the sagas and folktales of the Nordic countries, with varying ambiguous traits. In modern times, they are often portrayed as Norse supernatural zombies, as depicted in various video games such as Skyrim and God of War, loosely based on the draugr as described in early medieval Icelandic sagas, however, in myth and folklore they comprise several complex ideas which change from story to story, especially in surviving Norwegian folklore, where the draugr remains a staple.

<i>28 Days Later</i> 2002 post-apocalyptic horror film by Danny Boyle

28 Days Later is a 2002 British post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. It stars Cillian Murphy as a bicycle courier who awakens from a coma to discover the accidental release of a highly contagious, aggression-inducing virus has caused the breakdown of society. Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Megan Burns, and Brendan Gleeson appear in supporting roles.

<i>Dawn of the Dead</i> (2004 film) 2004 film by Zack Snyder

Dawn of the Dead is a 2004 action horror film directed by Zack Snyder in his feature directorial debut, with a screenplay by James Gunn. A remake of George A. Romero's 1978 film of the same name, it stars an ensemble cast that includes Sarah Polley, Jake Weber, Ving Rhames, and Mekhi Phifer, with Scott Reiniger, Tom Savini, and Ken Foree from the original film appearing in cameos. Set in Milwaukee, the film follows a group of survivors who try to survive a zombie apocalypse holed up in a suburban shopping mall.

<i>Days of Thunder</i> 1990 film by Tony Scott

Days of Thunder is a 1990 American sports action drama film produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott. The film stars Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, Caroline Williams, and Michael Rooker. It also features appearances by real life NASCAR racers, such as Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace, Neil Bonnett, and Harry Gant. Commentator Dr. Jerry Punch, of ESPN, has a cameo appearance, as does co-producer Don Simpson.

Damned or The Damned may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Campbell (actor)</span> American actor (1923–2011)

William Campbell was an American actor who appeared in supporting roles in major film productions, and also starred in several low-budget B-movies and horror films.

The Holocaust has been a prominent subject of art and literature throughout the second half of the twentieth century. There is a wide range of ways–including dance, film, literature, music, and television–in which the Holocaust has been represented in the arts and popular culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoebe Tonkin</span> Australian actress (born 1989)

Phoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin is an Australian actress. Her accolades include nominations for three AACTA Awards and a Logie Award.

Adam Marcus is an American film director, writer and actor.

<i>The House of the Devil</i> 2009 film by Ti West

The House of the Devil is a 2009 American horror film written, directed, and edited by Ti West, starring Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov, Greta Gerwig, A. J. Bowen, and Dee Wallace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Cole (actor)</span> English actor

Joseph Michael Cole is an English actor. Some of his most notable roles include Luke in Skins, John Shelby in Peaky Blinders, Marzin and Beckwith in Secret in Their Eyes, Billy Moore in A Prayer Before Dawn, Frank in the Black Mirror episode "Hang the DJ", Sean Wallace in Gangs of London, and Iver Iversen in Against the Ice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odessa Young</span> Australian actress (born 1998)

Odessa Young is an Australian actress. She gained prominence through her roles in the Nine Network drama Tricky Business (2012) and the 2015 films Looking for Grace and The Daughter, the latter of which earned her an AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Her films since include Assassination Nation, A Million Little Pieces, Shirley (2020), Mothering Sunday (2021) and Manodrome (2023). On television, she starred in the miniseries The Stand (2020). Young also made her off-Broadway debut in Days of Rage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David F. Sandberg</span> Swedish filmmaker (born 1981)

David F. Sandberg is a Swedish filmmaker. He came to prominence for writing, directing, producing, editing, and scoring no-budget short horror films, which he released online under the pseudonym "ponysmasher". The most popular of these, Lights Out (2013), received a feature film adaptation in 2016, marking his feature-length directorial debut. He has since directed the films Annabelle: Creation (2017), Shazam! (2019), and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023). He is currently attached to direct and produce the 2025 film adaptation of the video game Until Dawn.

Siobhan Finneran is an English actress who has worked in theatre, television and film. Finneran made her film debut starring as Rita in the 1987 film release Rita, Sue and Bob Too. Over the following decade, Finneran established herself as a television actress appearing frequently in both comedic and dramatic guest roles. Into the 21st century, Finneran began appearing in more regular and leading roles in returning and standalone television series. Her more prolific work includes Benidorm (2007–2015), Downton Abbey (2010–2012) and Happy Valley (2014–2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatari (band)</span> Icelandic band and performance art group

Hatari are an Icelandic techno, industrial and punk rock band and performance art group from Reykjavík. Their public image incorporates elements of anti-capitalism and BDSM attire. The band currently consists of Klemens Hannigan, Einar Stefánsson and Davíð Katrínarson, the latter of whom replacing original member Matthías Haraldsson in 2023. They have released an album and an extended play, encompassing several singles. Hatari represented Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with their song "Hatrið mun sigra", finishing tenth.

Turlough Convery is a Northern Irish actor. He is best known for his role as Bear in series 3 of the BBC Three series Killing Eve, as Liam in My Mad Fat Diary, and as Arthur Parker in the ITV series Sanditon. Convery has been married to his long-term partner Francesca since 2018.

Christian Convery is a Canadian child actor known for his roles in the Netflix fantasy series Sweet Tooth (2021–2024) and the comedy horror film Cocaine Bear (2023).

<i>Shelby Oaks</i> 2024 American film by Chris Stuckmann

Shelby Oaks is a 2024 American supernatural horror mystery film produced, written, and directed by Chris Stuckmann in his feature directorial debut. It stars Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, Keith David, Charlie Talbert, Emily Bennett, and Sarah Durn. The film is also produced by Aaron B. Koontz, Cameron Burns, and Ashleigh Snead.

The Midwich Cuckoos is a British science fiction television series on Sky Max, created by David Farr. It is based on the 1957 book of the same name by John Wyndham. It stars Keeley Hawes and Max Beesley. It began airing on 2 June 2022, and all episodes became available on Sky On Demand. In Australia, the entire series is available on Stan.

When Lightning Flashes Over the Sea is an upcoming documentary film written and directed by Eva Neymann. The film portrays people in Odesa who are searching for dignity and dreams between war, loss and hope.

References

  1. ↑ "The Damned". Box Office Mojo . IMDb. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  2. ↑ "This New Folk-Horror Thriller Will Give You Nightmares". The Daily Beast. January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Yossman, K.J. (July 8, 2021). "'Mothering Sunday' Star Odessa Young to Lead Psychological Horror 'The Damned' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  4. ↑ Ritman, Alex (February 1, 2024). "'The Damned' First Look: Odessa Young and Joe Cole Endure a Cruel Winter in Upcoming Horror Film (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  5. ↑ Hoby, Hermione (November 15, 2021). "Introducing… the actress Odessa Young". Financial Times. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  6. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (April 27, 2023). "'Gangs of London' Star Joe Cole Joins Odessa Young in 'The Damned' Cast, Protagonist to Launch Sales at Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  7. ↑ Abbatescianni, Davide (May 3, 2023). "Thordur Palsson's psychological horror The Damned now in post-production". Cineuropa . Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  8. ↑ Dunn, Jack (April 17, 2024). "Tribeca Festival Reveals 2024 Feature Film Lineup Including New Movies With Lily Gladstone, Jenna Ortega and Michael Cera". Variety. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  9. ↑ Grobar, Matt (June 4, 2024). "Vertical Acquires Supernatural Horror Pic 'The Damned' Ahead Of Tribeca Premiere". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  10. ↑ Billinton, Alex (October 31, 2024). "Chilling Icelandic Horror Thriller Film 'The Damned' Official US Trailer". First Showing. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Domestic 2025 Weekend 1". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  12. ↑ "The Damned (2024)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.