The Damned (#636)

If anyone were to ask what THE DAMNED, the film I saw today, was about, I would say it certainly was about guilt and humanity but it seemed much longer to reveal than the hour and 29 minutes the film ran. It was well acted and well directed and the setting more than adequately depicted the utter isolation of a fishing station somewhere remote, with absolutely miserable weather. Headed by a widowed wife, the fishing crew spots a sinking ship offshore, and there was a discussion on whether they should try to rescue them or ignore it and try to get through the winter with an inadequate food supply (which wouldn't have lasted long with more people eating).  No rescue is the decision and the rest of the film reveals the growing guilt among all the characters resulting in violence and even suicide. This is what might be described as a folk horror movie, because it obviously occurs in the last century or earlier. I can't say I liked the film but it was professionally produced but not particularly scary.  Maybe at my advanced age, I can no longer be frightened by happenings in a movie. 87% of critics raved about it; audiences at 49% were less enthusiastic. Maybe that's why Rotten Tomatoes didn't select me as one their critics.