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The Damned (2024 Palsson film)

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For the historical drama film directed by Roberto Minervini, see The Damned (2024 Minervini film).

The Damned
Theatrical release poster
Directed byThordur 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 byStephen McKeon
Production
companies
Distributed byVertical
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.

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

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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

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Production

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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

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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

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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.

References

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  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. ^ a b 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.
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