“The Damned” follows a 19th-century widow who is forced to make an impossible choice during a cruel winter when a ship sinks off the coast, and the aftermath of her decision.

Icy Atmosphere, Eerie Impact

This is a beautifully shot movie. Taking place in a remote Icelandic village, “The Damned” features the vast ocean along with a snowy, mountainous landscape. The film certainly uses this to its advantage, as that alone is a part of the horror. Jarring cuts from the pitch-black darkness to the bright, snowy terrain add an extra layer of suspense throughout the runtime.

Eva’s Quiet Unraveling

At the helm of “The Damned” is Odessa Young as Eva. Young delivers a very tame performance in the lead role, yet full of so much emotion at the same time. Her character is sad, but also extremely strong, and she conveys this well.

The dialogue is a strength in “The Damned,” as it drives a lot of the tension-riddled scenes. However, there is one character that exists solely for exposition. These sequences of conversation felt like the character was telling the audience exactly what was going to happen for the remainder of the movie. And for the most part… that was the case. This felt unnecessary as the ambiguous nature of the story is what made it so compelling.

Slow-Burn Suspense with a Message

While this is a slow burn, the flick very quickly moves into the perilous situation that sets the grounds for the rest of the film. “The Damned” is able to be successful as a slow burn because that is almost what makes the horror of the film interesting to begin with. Insanity isn’t ensuing in a single moment, but rather over a period of time with little explanation as to why.

It’s an interesting look at grief, guilt and isolation through a psychological horror lens. The movie pulls from Icelandic superstition and hints of supernatural lore, all set within a brutal yet beautiful landscape.

A decent horror movie in January? It’s shocking to say, but that’s exactly what “The Damned” is. While it doesn’t fully come together and is slightly repetitive at times, the movie still manages to deliver effectively unsettling moments. “The Damned” marks a good start for the genre in 2025.

Rating: 3 out of 5