At a desolate fishing outpost in the merciless Icelandic waters, the crew faces an impossible choice: rescue survivors from a sinking ship or preserve their own limited resources for survival. Their decision to leave the strangers to their fate awakens something ancient and vengeful. A film by Thordur Palsson, starring Odessa Young, Joe Cole, Turlough Convery, Lewis Gribben, Francis Magee, Mícheál Óg Lane, Rory McCann, and Siobhan Finneran.
The DAMNED
Thordur Palsson
(2025)
One year after losing their leader Magnus in a tragic accident near the treacherous rock formation known as the Teeth, the crew returns to their fishing outpost in the Icelandic sea. Ragnar (Rory McCann), Daníel (Joe Cole), Hákon (Turlough Convery), Jónas (Lewis Gribben), Skúli (Francis Magee), Aron (Mícheál Óg Lane), Helga (Siobhan Finneran), and Magnus’s widow Eva (Odessa Young) face one of the harshest winters with rapidly dwindling supplies. With their nets coming up empty day after day, they’re forced to eat the fish they had reserved for bait just to survive.
During dinner, Helga, the superstitious cook and housekeeper, shares a dark tale with the crew about two fishermen brothers. One was handsome, the other plain, but both worked hard and earned their fortune. The plain brother invested wisely, married a beautiful wife, and built a fine house, while the handsome brother squandered his wealth and grew bitter with envy.
One day at sea, consumed by jealousy, the handsome brother murdered his plain sibling, disguising it as a tragic accident. A year passed, and he claimed everything his brother once had – the beautiful wife, the fine house. But one night, a knock echoed at his door. He sent a servant to answer, who never returned. Then he sent his wife, who also vanished into the darkness. Finally, the handsome brother went to the door himself, only to find it empty – with nothing but the foul stench of seaweed and rotting flesh lingering in the air.
The next day, the crew witnesses a foreign vessel smashing against the Teeth, desperate screams for help echoing across the water. A heated argument erupts among them – some urging rescue, while others point out they can barely feed themselves, let alone take on more mouths. With tensions mounting, they turn to Eva, the boat’s owner, for the final decision. She sides with Ragnar: attempting to save the strangers would put her entire crew at risk, a sacrifice she’s unwilling to make.
The following day, Eva stumbles upon a barrel washed up on the beach. She brings it to Ragnar, and they discover that it contains salted meat. Convinced there might be more barrels floating near the wreckage that could help solve their food shortage, Ragnar suggests they should take their boat out as quickly as possible to salvage whatever remains before the tide claims it all. Eva agrees.
That night, Eva leads the crew on a salvage mission, where they manage to recover a wooden crate. Their operation takes a dark turn when they spot survivors desperately clinging to the rocks nearby. Chaos erupts as the survivors plunge into the sea, swimming frantically toward the boat. In the violent struggle that follows, as the crew fights to prevent the survivors from boarding, Ragnar loses his balance and plummets to his death in the frigid waters. The remaining crew escapes to shore, only to discover a bitter irony – the crate they fought and died for contains nothing but lamp oil and brandy.
Later, six bodies from the wreck wash ashore. Eva spots Aron taking a pocket watch from one of the corpses and demands that he put it back where he found it. As they deal with this grim moment, movement catches their eye – a corpse’s stomach is writhing. Daníel slices it open, and to their horror, two live eels slither out from within.
In maritime folklore, there are superstitions surrounding the act of taking something from a dead sailor washed ashore. Such actions are often considered to bring misfortune. Many sailors believed that the souls of deceased sailors could linger around their bodies. Taking items from a dead sailor was thought to disturb these spirits, leading to curses or bad luck for those who took them.
While preparing wooden coffins for the dead, Eva notices Jónas’s distress after his conversation with Helga, who’s brought the ropes. When Eva inquires, Jónas reveals that it’s just a foolish superstition. Skúli explains that Helga fears the dead might return as draugur. Daníel elaborates on the old beliefs: binding arms with knotted rope prevents the dead from breaking free, turning the coffin three times makes them lose their way, and nailing their feet keeps them from walking in dreams. Though Daníel dismisses these as old wives’ tales, and the crew proceeds without performing any of these rituals. Afterward, the crew leaves the coffins on the hill and departs. Eva visits the nearby grave of her late husband, Magnús Magnússon.
The draugur (or draugr) is a corporeal undead creature from Norse mythology, particularly prominent in Icelandic sagas and folklore. Draugar are not merely spirits or ghosts; they are animated corpses that rise from their graves. They are often described as having a grotesque appearance, typically with blue or pale skin and a foul odor. Draugar possess superhuman strength and various magical abilities. They can shapeshift, foresee the future, and even predict weather conditions, making them formidable beings in tales.
Eva begins experiencing unsettling dreams and glimpses a dark figure lurking in the shadows. Helga warns her with grim certainty that a draugur will come for them – it will invade their minds, and won’t stop until it has taken all of them. The only way to destroy a draugur is with fire.
Written and directed by Icelandic filmmaker Thordur Palsson in his directorial debut, “The DAMNED” is a haunting psychological horror film that follows a fishing outpost crew facing moral dilemmas when forced to choose between rescuing shipwreck survivors and ensuring their own survival during a brutal winter.
The script expertly interweaves Icelandic folklore and superstition from the 19th century, creating a compelling narrative that balances between mythical elements and harsh reality.
Cinematographer Eli Arenson masterfully captures the unsettling atmosphere and breathtaking Icelandic landscape, maintaining an ominous presence throughout the film.
The ensemble delivers powerful performances, with Joe Cole standing out as he inhabits his role with remarkable intensity, bringing authenticity to every scene, making each moment feel genuine and raw.
I love how the film keeps the supernatural elements subtle while building tension through gradual pacing pays off when the revelations unfold in the final moments with satisfying impact.
The conclusion offers an intriguing twist, raising questions about whether the vengeful spirit truly exists or if mass hysteria gripped the crew as they grappled with the consequences of their actions. This ambiguity invites viewers to contemplate the ethics of prioritizing self-preservation over helping strangers.
The DAMNED premiered at Tribeca Film Festival on 6 June 2024. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 3 January 2025 by Vertical Entertainment.