Village of the Damned

Name: Village of the Damned
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Released: December 7, 1960
Duration: 77 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Barbara Shelley, George Sanders, Jenny Laird, John Phillips, Laurence Naismith

1960

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: December 7, 1960 | Approved

Starring: Barbara Shelley, George Sanders, Jenny Laird, John Phillips, Laurence Naismith, Martin Stephens, Michael Gwynn, Richard Vernon, Richard Warner, Thomas Heathcote

Summary: In the English village of Midwich, the blonde-haired, glowing-eyed children of uncertain paternity prove to have frightening powers.

Director: Wolf Rilla

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Horror

Rating: Approved

Runtime: 77 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

John Petrakis

A British horror classic, filled with enough creepy imagery to keep "normal" children awake at night, and parents looking over their shoulders at the "little monsters" plotting away in the room down the hall. [29 Nov 2004, p.C4]

Pauline Kael

It's clever and has some really chilling moments.

Staff (Not Credited)

You don't get much explanation, and the overall plot may not withstand detailed analysis. But the atmosphere and pace are superbly handled, and the performances of the sinister, inhumanly intelligent 'children' never falter. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

A very frightening adaptation of the John Wyndham novel about a small English village that becomes the victim of unfriendly aliens. Read full review

Dave Kehr

A strong and subtle horror film. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

An eerie, atmospheric horror film. [08 Aug 2004, p.E14]

Staff (Not Credited)

Tapers off from a taut beginning into soggy melodrama. Wolf Rilla’s direction is adequate, but no more. Read full review

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User Reviews

Dandy-Mr-D

Aug 18, 2020

This movie was known to me on several list, including Metacritic, as a good film in the arena of early sci-fi and horror that inspired many future ideas in those genres. After watching it myself, I am not sure I can correlate many; the film is very unique. There is a wonderful element ofThis movie was known to me on several list, including Metacritic, as a good film in the arena of early sci-fi and horror that inspired many future ideas in those genres. After watching it myself, I am not sure I can correlate many; the film is very unique. There is a wonderful element of mystery as to what is going on, and along with the characters, you uncover that mystery in pieces which can lead to both interest and some dread as you find out more. It never fully seems to be clear to me by the end of the movie what was absolutely going on, although there is enough to formulate a few solid theories. One thing I think we can be certain of though is the kids in this movie are very creepy.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Jan 18, 2020

It gets into melodramatic terrain but this is a clear example of how to make horror with subtlety and focused on the atmosphere.
Something that has been lost to the unstoppable wave of gore and simple jump scares that has saturated the genre for years.
Far superior to John Carpenter'sIt gets into melodramatic terrain but this is a clear example of how to make horror with subtlety and focused on the atmosphere.
Something that has been lost to the unstoppable wave of gore and simple jump scares that has saturated the genre for years.

Far superior to John Carpenter's washed out remake.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

doebrei

Oct 7, 2022

A basic sci-fi horror story that starts off with a fun mystery before turning into horror. The horror isn't very frightening, but it's a fun time when watching.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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