Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Creepy psychological horror has jump scares, violent scenes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Damned
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE DAMNED, widow Eva (Odessa Young) must lead her late husband's fishing fleet through a bleak winter at a remote Icelandic outpost. When she's forced to make a decision to put their safety over the survival of a foreign ship, the crew are plagued by guilt and something altogether more sinister lurking in the shadows.
Is It Any Good?
Bleak, snowy landscapes and shadowy lantern-lit interiors create a near constant sense of foreboding in director Thordur Palsson's debut feature. The Damned is about a fishing fleet attempting to survive both the elements and the consequences of their own actions in 19th century Iceland. For the most part, the film builds tension steadily, relying on the crew's increasing fear and paranoia to pull viewers into the icy chill of the drama. Local folktales, shadowy figures, and psychological disturbances work together to set the scene, while Young's strong performance in the lead role maintains momentum, even as the film rushes a little suddenly toward its final act. It's a strong first feature that borrows successfully from John Carpenter—particularly The Thing and The Fog—yet still builds an identity of its own. A few too many jump scares aside, The Damned marks Palsson as a promising new voice in the genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether they found The Damned scary. Were there any scenes in particular that made you feel uneasy? What techniques did the director use to scare the audience? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
The movie is set in a remote outpost, cut off from other villages. How did the isolation add to the sense of dread and fear? What other horror films are set in remote locations? How do they compare?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 3, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : January 21, 2025
- Cast : Odessa Young , Joe Cole , Lewis Gribben
- Director : Thordur Palsson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vertical Entertainment
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Family Stories , Friendship , Fantasy ( Ghosts ) , History , Activism ( Racial justice )
- Run time : 89 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : bloody violent content, suicide and some language
- Last updated : September 8, 2025
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