Tribeca usually premieres features that land on my “top 10 horror films of the year” lists, and Icelandic director Thordur Palsson’s The Damned (UK, Iceland, Ireland, Belgium; 2024) has kept that streak alive, as it has certainly cemented a spot on my list already. The film deftly blends psychological, folk, and survival horror elements in a gripping work of dread.
Set in a harsh winter during the 19th century, The Damned finds widow Eva (Odessa Young) in charge of an isolated fishing outpost. Her crew is near starvation, doing their best to keep their spirits up even as they begin resorting to eating the fish they use as bait to survive. When Eva and her crew catch sight of a sinking ship one day, they must decide whether to try and rescue survivors or to put their own survival ahead of saving strangers. After a chilling discovery is made, the inhabitants of the outpost begin to exhibit horrifying behaviors as what some call superstition but others believe to be supernatural reality sets in.
Palsson, who cowrote the screenplay with Jamie Hannigan, serves up a slice of fear-fare cinema that is simultaneously bleak and beautiful, with captivating cinematography from Eli Arenson including some unforgettable shots, and a perfectly fitting score from Stephen McKeon. The unrelenting cold seems fairly palpable, and the mystery behind the mythological Icelandic entity known as the Draugur — I’ll avoid describing it here to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible — unfolds in a satisfyingly suspenseful manner.
Young is fantastic in her lead role as Eva, a widow who is in charge of the lives and livelihood of her mostly male crew, with all of the pressure that it brings, and the difficult decisions she must make once the differing beliefs of the group’s members begin wreaking havoc. Joe Cole adds strong support as crew member Daniel, and the rest of the ensemble cast players all turn in riveting performances, as well.
The Damned is a masterful horror film that unveils its secrets at a superb pace, combining the fear of The Other with Icelandic mythology and folklore. Strongly recommended for fright-fare aficionados of all stripes, The Damned, which has been acquired for North American distribution by vertical, is slated for release later this year.
The Damned screens as part of Tribeca, which runs June 5–16, 2024. For more information, visit https://tribecafilm.com/festival/film.
