
Movie spotlight
The Damned
To free his girlfriend from her contract with a greedy madam, Shang Li (Don Wong) teams up with a cold-blooded thief called the Sparrow (Chiang-lung Wen) to hijack a large shipment of silver. But when the heist suddenly goes bad, Shang Li finds himself with blood on his hands and a price on his head. Martial arts superstars Angela Mao and Lieh Lo also star in this kung fu classic from writer-director Pao-Shu Kao.
Insights
Plot Summary
A group of young tourists on a walking holiday in the English countryside stumble upon a bizarre, isolated community. They soon discover that the inhabitants, led by a stern matriarch, are part of a sinister experiment involving radiation and control, aimed at creating a new, 'superior' race. As they attempt to escape, they find themselves trapped and targeted by the unnerving villagers.
Critical Reception
The Damned (also known as 'It's Alive!') is a cult horror film that garnered a mixed but generally positive reception among genre fans for its unique premise and unsettling atmosphere, though it has also been criticized for its pacing and some of its more outlandish elements. It has since gained a following for its B-movie charm and Peter Cushing's performance.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its creepy atmosphere and unsettling premise.
Peter Cushing's performance is a notable highlight.
Some found the plot occasionally convoluted and the pacing uneven.
Google audience: Audience reviews for 'The Damned' are scarce and often fall into the cult film appreciation category, with many viewers enjoying its vintage horror/sci-fi blend and unique narrative, despite acknowledging its B-movie qualities.
Fun Fact
The film was originally intended to be a Hammer Film Productions production, but due to financial issues, it was eventually made independently and later released by Dimension Pictures.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources