Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Damned’ on Hulu, a Gloomy Ghost Story Set on the Freezing Iceland Seaside

New York Post - May 10th, 2025
Open on New York Post

The Damned, now available on Hulu, is an atmospheric horror-thriller set in 19th-century Iceland, directed by Thordur Palsson. The film follows a group of fishermen, led by Eva (played by Odessa Young), as they battle the harsh winter and the supernatural presence of a Norse ghoul known as a draugr. The narrative unfolds with Eva's crew facing dire survival choices, including the moral dilemma of not rescuing shipwrecked survivors, leading to supernatural consequences. The film focuses on atmospheric tension rather than action, with Eva grappling with guilt and survival as the draugr begins to haunt them.

The story delves into themes of survival, moral ambiguity, and the influence of folklore, reminiscent of films like The Witch and The Lighthouse. The Damned's slow pacing and emphasis on mood may challenge viewers' patience, but it offers a compelling exploration of human decisions under duress. The film captures the desolate beauty of Iceland's landscape, using it as a backdrop for a narrative about the impossibility of living a morally pure life in unforgiving circumstances. The film's exploration of irony and survival makes it a noteworthy addition to the folk horror genre.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.0
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a detailed and engaging narrative of the film 'The Damned,' effectively capturing its atmospheric tension and thematic depth. It excels in clarity and readability, with a well-structured analysis that guides the reader through the film's plot and character dynamics. The accuracy is strong, aligning with known details about the film, though it could benefit from more explicit source citations to enhance credibility and transparency. While the article is timely and engaging, its impact is primarily within the realm of entertainment, influencing individual viewing decisions rather than broader societal shifts. The balance could be improved by incorporating diverse perspectives and contrasting opinions to provide a more rounded view of the film's reception. Overall, the article is a well-crafted piece of film analysis, appealing to audiences interested in horror-thrillers and folklore-themed narratives.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story provides a detailed narrative of the film 'The Damned,' accurately capturing the setting, plot, and character dynamics. It correctly identifies the film's setting in 19th-century Iceland and the central plot involving a group of fishermen facing moral and existential dilemmas. The mention of the draugr, an ancient Norse mythological creature, aligns with the film's themes of folklore and horror. However, the story could benefit from additional citations or references to authoritative sources, such as official film reviews or production notes, to further substantiate its claims. The narrative's accuracy is bolstered by its alignment with known details about the film's plot and themes.

7
Balance

The article predominantly focuses on the film's narrative, themes, and character dynamics, offering a comprehensive view of the story. However, it leans slightly towards a positive portrayal, highlighting the film's atmospheric and thematic strengths while only briefly mentioning potential pacing issues. The balance could be improved by including more diverse perspectives, such as contrasting opinions from different critics or audience reactions, to provide a more rounded view of the film's reception.

9
Clarity

The article is well-written, with a clear and engaging narrative that effectively conveys the film's themes and plot. The language is descriptive and vivid, capturing the atmospheric elements of the film and the emotional stakes faced by the characters. The structure is logical, with a clear progression from the setting and plot to character dynamics and thematic analysis. The tone is neutral and informative, making the content accessible and easy to understand for a general audience.

6
Source quality

The story appears to rely heavily on the writer's interpretation and analysis of the film, without explicit citations from external sources. While the narrative is consistent with known details about the film, the lack of direct quotes or references to authoritative sources like film reviews or interviews with the cast and crew limits the source quality. Incorporating a broader range of sources, such as critic reviews or audience feedback, would enhance the credibility and reliability of the information presented.

5
Transparency

The article lacks explicit transparency regarding its sources or the methodology used to gather information. While the narrative is coherent and aligns with known details about the film, the absence of disclosed sources or references to how the information was obtained affects the transparency. Providing more background on the author's expertise or citing specific sources would improve the transparency and allow readers to better understand the basis for the claims made in the article.

Sources

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15010692/
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Damned_(2024_Palsson_film)
  3. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-damned-film-review-2025
  4. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_damned_2024_2
  5. https://collider.com/the-damned-movie-review/