I know it's not the original but it still has a certain quality, an authenticity that comes with this kind of story. And all the best scary films have a good story. It starts with the most nonchalant music I've ever heard but some of the villagers can hear a whispering. All is not well here. There's something in the air and one sunny afternoon everyone passes out. A couple of hours later they all wake up. All except the ones who happened to be driving or BBQing before falling asleep. Well, shit happens.Not long after this incident, most of the women in the village find they are pregnant, with conception dating back to the blackout and a mysterious doctor arrives to offer financial rewards to those who go through with the birth. This prompts some hilarious, almost Exorcist like dream sequences.
Soon the children are born and we fast forward about 8 years. I mean, it should've been obvious that something was up with them; bad hair, oversized coats, sinister grins and nods that lead to sudden, violent suicides. Seriously creepy effing kids. Anyway, it becomes common knowledge that they are reading and controlling the minds of the adults.
Rather slow in parts, it runs much like a Stephen King TV screenplay. Not necessarily a bad thing, just a thing. I did love the suicide scenes and the kids are adequately superior. The boy who began to learn empathy made me feel a bit sad. Wait. Do I have empathy?! Regardless of what horrors the kids committed, the overwhelming moral of the story is the horrors the grown ups allowed to happen due to their selfish needs. Adults aren't nearly as clever as they think they are. Damn it.
What I really like about these Village of the Damned movies, the old ones as well, is how these kids speak like adults, and make reference through their well thought out dialog to the evils and wrongs in the world and in society.
ReplyDeleteSome of the dialog might sound harsh comming from these kids, but theres no denying the validity and truth behind them, kind of like real kids say the blatant truth sometimes and shock people.
does this modern movie have christopher reeve in?
ReplyDeleteIs it shameful that this is the only version of Village of the Damned that I've seen. Oh, my horror cred. How it diminishes!
ReplyDeleteI remember this movie being fairly "okay." And, if I'm not mistake, does not Mark Hamill play the town priest?
Its one of the those films that could have been slightly creepier, as you said it tends to be rather slow, but the concepts behind it are terrific.
ReplyDeleteNot that we need another remake, but this could most certainly be a film that would benefit from a different approach (referencing technology perhaps?) in another 5 years or so.
Um...go little John Connor?
ReplyDeleteI was actually really suprised by this film in so many ways, not only for how Christopher Reeve manages to transfer the clumsy nievity of clark kent into this film and still make it work.
ReplyDeleteThe death scenes are all pretty original, with death by broom handle being near the top, along with educating us all, about the dangers of falling asleep on your barbeque.
Thanks for reminding me about this one.
It doesn't touch the original, but it is a better remake than most. I like the fact that it gives a little more insight into the feelings of the mothers than the first two films did. It also further humanized the one relatively "good" boy, which I thought was a nice touch.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why I haven't seen this film yet. no idea AT ALL!! And I just finished a film degree! Thanks for the reminder to go and watch it ASAP! x
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