Village of the Damned (1960)

"Beware the stare that will paralyze the will of the world!" That's what the tagline for this old horror / sci-fi chestnut said, back in 1960. And that stare is certainly the most enduring fragment -- those who've seen this movie, especially if it was as a child, will always remember the white, glowing eyes of the evil alien offspring born of human women. Although 1956's Invasion of the Body Snatchers is certainly my favorite in this genre of film, Village of the Damned is in the top ten. Re-watching it on DVD after several years' absence has only strengthened my opinion of this solid B film.

Like most great movies, Village of the Damned is based on a great book (The Midwich Cuckoos, by John Wyndham who also wrote The Day of the Triffids). Unlike a great book, this great movie has indelible visuals. The opening sequence is particularly chilling: In the bucolic English town of Midwich, everyone is asleep. But they are not asleep by choice… something has made sure of their slumber, all living things inert around the town and in their homes dropped in their tracks. Just when the outside world discovers what's happening in Midwich, everything goes back normal. The odd incident is a mystery until several women turn up pregnant -- even women who've never had intercourse before. It's an immaculate mass conception, but not a beatific one.

The plot mostly focuses on professor Gordon Zellaby (the fantastic George Sanders, whom I love in "The Falcon" detective series from the 1940s) and his wife, Anthea (Barbara Shelley, who later went on to star in several horror films including The Gorgon and Dracula: The Prince of Darkness). They are one of the "blessed" couples, and when their son is born he arrives with some unique talents and a pair of particularly penetrating peepers. David (Martin Stephens, who also creeped move-goers out in The Innocents) may appear to be the perfect Aryan-style child with his white-blonde hair, light eyes, and military manners, but you can't always judge a kid by its cover.

Despite a rather talky interlude, Village of the Damned succeeds as an eerie sci-fi that stands the test of time. Some of the paranoid political shading may be lost on less-informed viewers, but that knowledge is not necessary to fully enjoy the film. As a simple, subtle, and spooky vintage horror film, it works.

For fans who want to find out more, there is an informative and well-paced commentary by Steve Haberman (author of: Chronicles of Terror: Silent Screams). He goes into detail on the novel, the rocky filming and marketing of the movie, and shares some interesting reviews it got when it finally came out (Variety denounced Village of the Damned as "sick!"). He also talks about the actors, the rather crude but effective special effects, and some of the more subtle plot points.

This DVD of Village of the Damned is paired with Children of the Damned (on the same disk), and set for an August 10, 2004 release.

Review by Staci Layne Wilson for Horror.com