So, you’ve probably seen the posters or heard the whispers about The Damned. No, not the 1960s classic and definitely not a documentary about the punk band. I’m talking about the 2024 Icelandic folk horror that basically turned the "difficult choices" trope into a full-blown nightmare.
Directed by Thordur Palsson, the guy who gave us The Valhalla Murders, this movie is less about jump scares and more about that deep, sinking feeling in your gut when you know you’ve done something irredeemable. Honestly, it’s one of those films that stays in your teeth long after the credits roll.
What is The Damned Actually About?
The setup is pretty simple, but it gets dark fast. We’re in 19th-century Iceland. It’s winter. It’s freezing. Supplies are so low that the villagers are basically staring at the walls waiting for the end.
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Odessa Young plays Eva, a young widow running a remote fishing outpost. She’s inherited this place from her husband, Magnus, who died on the "Teeth"—a nasty set of rocks nearby. Then, a foreign ship hits those same rocks. Eva and her crew see it happen. They hear the screams. But here’s the kicker: they don't help.
They can’t. Or they choose not to. With food running out, adding more mouths to feed is basically a suicide pact. It’s a "trolley problem" but with much higher stakes and way more ice.
The Cast That Makes You Feel the Cold
Usually, in these low-budget period horrors, the acting can be a bit... stiff. Not here.
- Odessa Young is incredible as Eva. She has these eyes that just look haunted from frame one.
- Joe Cole (you probably know him from Peaky Blinders or Gangs of London) plays Daniel. He’s the moral compass that eventually gets shattered.
- Rory McCann (The Hound!) shows up as Ragnar. He’s as imposing as ever, bringing that rugged, "survival at any cost" energy that makes the decision to abandon the sailors feel almost logical.
The chemistry—if you can call it that in such a bleak setting—is tense. You can tell they filmed this in actual Icelandic locations because everyone looks genuinely miserable and freezing. That's not CGI frost on their breath.
That Ending Explained (Spoilers, Obviously)
People are losing their minds over the final act. After the decision to let the sailors die, the crew starts seeing things. Is it a draugr (a Norse undead creature)? Or is it just the psychological weight of guilt mixed with starvation?
Basically, the "monster" starts picking them off, but it’s mostly through paranoia. They turn on each other. By the time Eva is the last one standing, she’s convinced she’s being hunted by a supernatural force.
The Bitter Twist
When she finally confronts the "draugr" in the cabin and sets it on fire, the movie pulls the rug out. It wasn't a monster. It was a survivor from the wreck. A man who had managed to stay alive, hungry and desperate, just trying to find warmth. By "killing the evil," Eva actually becomes the very thing she was afraid of. She kills an innocent man out of pure, blinded terror.
It’s a cycle. She’s now "damned" not because of a curse, but because of her own choices. It’s super cynical, and honestly, kind of brilliant.
Why It’s Not Your Average Horror Movie
If you go into this expecting The Conjuring, you’re going to be bored. This is a slow burn. Like, really slow.
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It’s more in line with The Lighthouse or The Witch. The horror comes from the environment and the isolation. The sound design is a huge part of this—the wind sounds like screaming, and the creaking of the wood feels like something is constantly about to break.
Practical Things to Know
- Release Info: It premiered at Tribeca in June 2024 but hit US theaters in early January 2025.
- Runtime: It’s a tight 89 minutes. No filler.
- Vibe: Very grey, very cold, very "I need a blanket and a therapist after this."
How to Watch It Right
Don't watch this on your phone while on the bus. This is a "lights off, phone away" kind of movie. The cinematography by Eli Arenson is gorgeous, but it’s very dark. You need a good screen to see what’s actually happening in the shadows.
If you’re into folk horror or movies that ask "what would you do to survive?", put this on your list. Just don't expect to feel good about humanity when it's over.
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Your Next Step: Check your local VOD platforms like Amazon or Apple TV, as it transitioned to digital shortly after its limited theatrical run. If you liked The Northman but wanted something more intimate and psychological, this is your weekend watch.