The 2025 movie calendar starts off with a scare, as horror movie The Damned is one of the first movies released in the new year. It's probably an introduction for many to director Thordur Palsson, who makes his feature directing debut with the frightening tale.
The Damned first screened at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, where it earned some solid buzz, which it hopes will help drum up interest in moviegoers for this Iceland-set haunt featuring a few up-and-coming talents and a familiar face from the Game of Thrones cast.
If you’re intrigued, read on for everything you need to know about The Damned.
The Damned release date
Movie fans can now see The Damned as it is playing exclusively in US movie theaters. The movie hits the UK on January 10.
Here are all the details you need to know about how to watch The Damned.
The Damned cast
As with many horror movies, The Damned has a female lead. In this case, a character named Eva is played by Odessa Young. TV miniseries The Stand and The Staircase, as well as 2024 movie The Order, are among the biggest previous credits for Young.
Another up-and-comer, Joe Cole stars in the movie. He is previously known for Nightsleeper, A Small Light and Gangs of London.
The rest of the cast includes Siobhan Finneran (Downton Abbey), Lewis Gribben (Masters of the Air), Francis Magee (The Tourist), Turlough Convery (Slow Horses season 4), Mícheál Óg Lane (Calvary) and Rory McCann (Game of Thrones).
The Damned plot
Here is the official synopsis for The Damned:
“In this atmospheric period drama set in the 19th century, Eva, a young widow, faces an impossible choice when a ship sinks off the coast of her isolated fishing village during a cruel winter. With their food supplies dwindling, Eva and her town must decide whether to rescue the shipwrecked sailors or let them perish to ensure their own survival. As the consequences of their actions begin to manifest, the villagers find themselves grappling with the weight of their decisions and the mounting unease that permeates their close-knit community.”
Palsson is credited with the story, with the script written by Jamie Hannigan.
The Damned trailer
Watch the eerie trailer for The Damned right here:
The Damned reviews
Reviews for The Damned give the movie a 78% “Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes as of January 2.
What to Watch will have its own review of the movie on January 3.
The Damned director
As mentioned, The Damned is the feature-directing debut for Thordur Palsson, who hails from Iceland. He is the creator behind the Netflix series The Valhalla Murders, for which he also directed four episodes. His other directing credits to date are for short films.
