When Village of the Damned was released in 1960, it became something of a sleeper hit for MGM thanks to its unsettling sci-fi concept that sent shivers down your spine. Based on the novel The Midwich Cuckoos from 1957 by John Wyndham, Village delivered the sight of glowing-eyed youths with psychic powers that only strengthened the healthy distrust everyone should have against well-dressed children. As it often goes with successful films, it was soon after that the studio thought a sequel would be a smashing idea. The concept that won screenwriter John Briley the honor of creating this follow-up was embraced by some key figures due to how much it stood apart from the original. For his first feature film, the politically-minded Briley harnessed the paranoia and distrust brought about by The Cold War and painted his canvas with these themes. When Children of the Damned was released in 1964, many balked at the fact that it was less overtly creepy than its predecessor, but in subsequent decades it has gained a greater appreciation for the smartly written, atmospheric thriller that it is.
Viewers of the first film will understand that this story is not meant to be a direct continuation of those events. Instead, we move from the British village of Midwich to “present day” London. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have zeroed in on a group of children from around the world with miraculous abilities. These children are not just smart, they are the exact same level of superior intelligence as demonstrated by all participants solving a very complex puzzle in the same swift amount of time. The children, from various countries – China, India, Nigeria, Russia, the United States and the UK – are brought to London so researchers can observe their intelligence a little more closely. Leading this research is British psychologist Tom Lewellin (Ian Hendry) and geneticist David Neville (Alan Badel), who slowly glean little pieces of information such as all of the children were born without fathers. Also, all of their parents or guardians seem very tense around them. Such things happen when you are dealing with a child who can control you with their mind.
The way in which events play out is refreshingly different from the original film. The exact intentions of the children are opaque, as they escape from their guardians to gather in an abandoned church. They seem to use their psychic abilities as a means of self preservation, even when it comes to a powerful weapon they construct which spooks the military. There is much to be said of the xenophobia and hysteria present in this film simply due to the fact that the forces which by default are considered “good” do not know what to do when engaging with an unknown entity – this automatically becomes a threat. It is not a coincidence that the children at the center of our tale are also more diverse than the line of white children featured in the original film. The film wants to promote tolerance, but it is not idealistic enough to allow things to play out in a way that is saccharine. While not much has changed, society of this time was becoming a bit jaded which is evidenced by the gut punch of an ending that ties together all the themes quite powerfully.
Compared to the first film, this film is noticeably less unnerving from a horror perspective. As a byproduct of Cold War anxieties, the film deftly captures the mood of the world at large and has something compelling to say about it. The pure dread is just not as all-encompassing this time around with military maneuvering encroaching on these moments a bit more. Even at only 90 minutes in length, the pacing of this film can be a bit lethargic and lacking in execution. The performances from the children are serviceable for the type of stoicism needed for these characters. The adults in the cast are mostly culled from the theatrical scene and have the natural acting talents to elevate the material they are given. As a whole, the film is the slightest bit of a step down from the original material, but not significantly so and the attempt to provide something different is a worthy endeavor.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents Children Of The Damned for the first time on Blu-Ray with a 1080p transfer sourced from a new master. The image is nothing short of stunning for a film that has rarely been given much respect over the years. This black and white feature has nice, natural film grain throughout that provides a great amount of detail to the image. The presentation has a good amount of depth to it including in the shadows where there is no evidence of any black crush. Fine detail is very strong as you can see subtle details in the clothing and production design. Print damage is virtually nonexistent throughout the duration of the movie. This example of film preservation has brought new life to the picture with a presentation that ranks high at a label known to be one of the best in the business. Warner Archive rarely lets us down.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray release comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that sounds simply wonderful. The deliberate delivery of the dialogue always comes through crystal clear. None of the sound effects or the moody score from Ron Goodwin ever overpowers the dialogue on this release. There are a few sequences that are kinetic here, but mostly there are effective environmental details that are appropriately lively in the speakers. There does not appear to be any damage or age related wear to the track. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles available on the disc for those who need it. Overall, this is an excellent audio presentation that suits the material really well.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Screenwriter John Briley delivers a fairly entertaining commentary track in which he discusses how he took the source material and adapted it to suit his new vision, the performers in the film, the creative disagreements he got in with the American studio, real-life inspirations for certain catastrophic events and more. This track is not very high on energy and there are some lengthy pauses between anecdotes, but the information he has at his disposal is worth hearing out.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here which is quite dramatic.
Final Thoughts
Children Of The Damned is a solid follow-up to Village of the Damned that does not simply try to recycle the material but rather expand upon it in meaningful ways. The pacing can be a bit dodgy, but the performances and overarching themes keep this one intriguing. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and a valuable commentary track. As a sequel to a classic film or a standalone dramatic thriller, this film is worthy of your time. Recommended
Children Of The Damned can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
