The Damned (2025) Review: Thordur Palsson Impresses in Directorial Debut for Atmospheric Folk Horror

Odessa Young and Joe Cole star in Thordur Palsson's Folk Horror directorial debut set in the 19th Century.

January film releases have quite a reputation. The month is known as a “dump month” where companies and film distributors are trying to put their leftovers out. The award season is in full swing, and people aren’t focused on January releases as they are excited to celebrate the elite films from the previous year. Enter Vertical Entertainment’s The Damned, starring Odessa Young, Joe Cole, and Rory McCann. Making his full-length directorial debut is director Thordur Palsson. The Damned takes its release window and welcomes in a strong start to the horror genre for 2025. Palsson proves that he has the ability to take this period piece and use tension to create a sense of horror that stays with you throughout the film.

When a foreign ship sinks outside of her Icelandic fishing post, Eva must make a decision that, unknowingly, holds the fate of her crew in her hands. Are they to save this crew, or watch as they sink into the cold abyss?  As mysterious and supernatural occurrences begin to happen amongst her crew, the lines are blurred between what is reality and what is psychological. Additionally, the question that begs to be answered is: can Eva live with the decisions she makes, or will the decisions come back to haunt her? True fear often resides not in the supernatural, but in the decisions she is compelled to confront.

The horror genre is slowly evolving into something more beautiful and atmospheric. We are beginning to see the effective use of tone, character depth, and psychological conflict more than ever. This adds another layer beyond the brutal, bloody, and grotesque that we are used to seeing in horror. This style effectively shows how these cinematic elements can lead to quality horror films. The Damned plays on this and pulls you in from the onset. Like Nosferatu, The Damned capitalizes on its tone and atmosphere to present a beautiful setting that pairs with its thought-provoking narrative. Though, at times, the narrative and exposition fall flat, the film is picked up and carried with its beautiful imagery. Cinematographer Eli Arenson demonstrates his ability to capture the cruel environment of Iceland, but also the spectacular beauty of its expanse.  

The Damned is categorized as a horror movie, but not in the bloody, hack-slash form. The combination of the brutal winter elements and mysterious happenings drew me right in. As the fishing outpost is hit with mysterious occurrences, you see the tension rise up and grab you. At times, the tension holds on to you and does not relent. The tension and mystery are what carry this film to the end. The constant struggle and battle between reality and psychology kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thordur Palsson may be a future star as he delivers a thought-provoking mystery that stays with you after the credits end. The film has very limited special effects and uses claustrophobic camera angles to build tension and suspense throughout the film.  Pair this with superb acting from Odessa Young and Joe Cole, this film will be a hit well after its cinematic run.

Final Thoughts

The main drawback of this film is its pacing. While it’s a quick watch, running just under an hour and a half, some scenes feel slower than necessary. Though this doesn’t diminish the overall experience, those moments could have been used more effectively to build exposition or heighten the sense of terror. That said, The Damned is an excellent horror film with a great atmosphere and effective use of tone and visuals to create tension. I would definitely recommend watching this film if it’s in theaters or available on streaming platforms.

4/5

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Spencer Wade
Spencer Wadehttps://letterboxd.com/srm1990/
Movies should be a place where you can enter a world where reality stands still. I have always loved watching movies and sharing with friends and family why I enjoyed them—also, sharing when a movie is not worth the watch. Film is entertainment and I have a passion for sharing that with others. I may not be a professional or know everything about filmography, but I have hopes that my input and opinions may reach someone who can relate and share that same feeling as I do. Outside of work and family, movies and entertainment are my go-to hobby. Check out my Tiktok page for movie reviews and pop culture fun. You can also find my short review content on my Letterboxd.
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January film releases have quite a reputation. The month is known as a “dump month” where companies and film distributors are trying to put their leftovers out. The award season is in full swing, and people aren’t focused on January releases as they are...The Damned (2025) Review: Thordur Palsson Impresses in Directorial Debut for Atmospheric Folk Horror