Set amongst the frozen landscape of an Arctic bay, Thordur Palsson’s The Damned is a desolate depiction of the horrors of isolation, paranoia and guilt. Starring Odessa Young and Joe Cole, The Damned centers around a winter fishing outpost hosted by a young widow called Eva (Young) who must make a terrible decision in order to ensure the survival of herself and her group of fishermen. But will the consequences of her decision come back to haunt her and possibly put the lives of the group in further danger?
After the death of her husband Magnus the previous winter, Eva has taken control of the isolated fishing outpost and commands a group of fishermen led by helmsman Ragnar (Rory McCann). After noticing a ship wrecked out on the rough sea, Eva makes the decision not to help the drowning crew due to the harsh winter conditions worsening and the food rations at an all time low. When a barrel of salted pork washes up on shore, Eva leads the men out to the wreck to look for more food, however they are shocked to find survivors, and after a struggle ensues, Ragnar is lost to the water and the ship’s survivors drown. In the aftermath of this tragedy, the members of the outpost begin to experience terrifying visions and dreams, causing them to descend into madness and fits of paranoia.
Utilising the Nordic folklore of the Draugr, a type of supernatural corporeal zombie, The Damned also uses its location and scenic surroundings to the best of its ability, almost creating a character out of the frozen fjords and tumultuous waters that surrounds the central cast and their situation, as well as it being a reflection of the wild and wintery desolation of their own minds. With the seemingly endless blanket of white snow and ice coupled with the isolation and desperation faced by Eva and her crew, a strong sense of paranoia and terror is built expertly, drawing a solid comparison to the same atmosphere created by John Carpenter in his 1982 isolation horror cult classic The Thing.
Odessa Young as the widowed Eva shines as the central character, a woman who must retain a quiet and strong resolve in spite of her loss, her grief and a sense of overwhelming loneliness and longing for connection. Despite a pacing issue that almost grounds the film to a halt towards the middle, and a more than predictable climax, the film is a chilling portrayal of the horrific effects of guilt on a secluded person’s mind. Framed by an awe-some frozen landscape, The Damned is a visually stunning and haunting unravelling of the human psyche.
3 Screams out of 5
The Damned is now out in Irish & UK cinemas
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