The Damned (These Are the Damned) (1962)
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50% of users liked it
(525 ratings)
Joseph Losey directed this unusual science fiction effort, which has won a small but fervent cult following. Simon Wells (MacDonald Carey) is an American visiting England, where he meets a woman named Joan (Shirley Ann Field). Simon is immediately attracted to Joan, but there's a considerable… More Joseph Losey directed this unusual science fiction effort, which has won a small but fervent cult following. Simon Wells (MacDonald Carey) is an American visiting England, where he meets a woman named Joan (Shirley Ann Field). Simon is immediately attracted to Joan, but there's a considerable obstacle in their budding romance: Joan's brother King (Oliver Reed), the leader of a violent pack of motorcycle rockers. King has a barely concealed incestuous attachment to his sister, and he sometimes uses her to lure victims into his gang's clutches. King and his cronies attack Simon, take his money, and leave him stranded, where he's eventually found by a pair of military security men. Simon is brought to the home of Bernard (Alexander Knox), a scientist working on a secret project for the government, and his girlfriend Freya (Viveca Lindfors), a sculptor. Joan eventually tracks Simon down in hopes of winning his forgiveness, but another run-in with King causes Simon and Joan to discover a cave that holds a terrible secret: a group of strange, cold-blooded children who were the products of one of Bernard's experiments gone wrong. The children were genetically engineered to survive a nuclear war, and, as a result, they are radioactive enough to kill anyone who comes in close contact with them. Controversial in its day, The Damned was produced in England in 1961 but was not released until 1963, when Hammer Films booked it as the second-half of a double bill with Maniac. It did not reach American screens until 1965, when it was shown under the title These Are the Damned. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Joseph Losey
- Genres
- Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- May 19, 1963 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
.. a strange collision of exploitation elements, visual elegance and emotional coolness, a fascinating oddity with strange angles that don't all fit neatly together but add up to a brilliant structure.
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Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
'The age of senseless violence,' by Joseph Losey
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Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian
Slow-building but creepy story of biker pug uglies, radiation poisoning, and prissy Brit schoolkids.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Losey awkwardly but nevertheless rather gamely transcends the limits of the genre by putting his personal stamp on a film that is both an apocalyptic sci-fi film and a teen rebellion flick.
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Cast
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Macdonald Carey
as Simon Wells
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Shirley Ann Field
as Joan
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Viveca Lindfors
as Freya Nielsen
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Alexander Knox
as Bernard
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Oliver Reed
as King
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Walter Gotell
as Maj. Holland
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James Villiers
as Capt. Gregory
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Tom Kempinski
as Ted
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Kenneth Cope
as Sid
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Brian Oulton
as Mr. Dingle
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Barbara Everest
as Miss Lamont
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Alan McClelland
as Mr. Stuart
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James Maxwell
as Mr. Talbot
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Rebecca Dignam
as Anne
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Siobhan Taylor
as Mary
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Nicholas Clay
as Richard
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Christopher Witty
as William
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David Palmer
as George
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John Thompson
as Charles
- Fiona Duncan
- David Gregory
- Anthony Valentine
- Neil Wilson
- Tommy Trinder
- Leon Garcia
- Edward Harvey
- Larry Martyn
