Village of the Damned

Village of the Damned from 1995, starring Christopher Reeve, Kirstie Alley, and Linda Kozlowski, is a science fiction thriller that takes place in the small, tranquil coastal town of Midwich, California. The movie, which is inherently disturbing and creepy, is a remake of the 1960 British film of the same name, transplanted from the original English locale to a Northern California setting.

The story begins with an eerie, inexplicable incident, where every living being in the town mysteriously falls unconscious at the same exact moment. Even those just on the outskirts of town fall prey to this strange phenomenon. When a local highway patrol officer, played by Reeve, steps into the affected area, he quickly collapses, illustrating the definitive boundaries of the phenomena.

What shocks everyone is that the incident lasts for precisely six hours and as quickly as it started, it is over, with no discernible damage or indication of foul play. The townsfolk are relieved and life seems to return to normal. However, nine months later, a decidedly abnormal situation arises: every woman capable of child-bearing mysteriously comes up pregnant, sparking both angst and speculations among the villagers.

Dr. Alan Chaffee, played by Christopher Reeve, is the commendable local physician and unofficial leader of the community who begins to untangle the mystery. Kirstie Alley steps into the plot as Dr. Susan Verner, a government epidemiologist who has conspicuously shown up in Midwich right after the incident.

The pronounced abnormality of these pregnancies heightens the suspense of the plot. All the children - eerily identical with platinum blonde hair, high IQs, and pale, emotionless faces - are born at the same time and grow at an inhuman rate, both mentally and physically. As they mature, their tactical and intellectual capabilities, coupled with their detached and calculating disposition, add an air of menace to the narrative.

These "children" soon demonstrate strange hypnotic powers and are walled off emotionally, casting bouts of sheer terror on the community. Their lack of empathy and understanding of human emotion makes them seem as if they are from another world.

The haunting soundtrack composed by John Carpenter, who also doubles as the director, contributes significantly to the overall chilling atmosphere of the film. Carpenter attempts to create a unique blend of physiological horror and science fiction, which keeps the viewers on edge, successfully building a slow terror.

Reeve’s performance as an empathetic town doctor is one of his most compelling, providing a solid anchor in the stormy sea of strangeness and terror that envelops Midwich. Alley brings a mysterious and menacing aura to her character, captivating viewers as she navigates through the unfamiliar phenomena going on in the town. Linda Kozlowski, who plays a local school teacher, brings the right level of emotional intensity to her role as one of the horrified mothers.

However, the real stars of this film are the children whose emotional sterility and cold intellect make for a truly unnerving viewing experience. Their performances lend a significant amount of credibility to the plot, capturing the unnerving creepiness that is at the heart of the narrative.

The cinematography is skilful, using the idyllic countryside as a counterpoint to the weird happenings, thus heightening the sense of unease. The special effects are subtly orchestrated to strikingly convey the unusual powers of the children, without trampling on the narrative.

Village of the Damned engages you with its strange premise, the chilling performance of the child actors, and the sense of dread that builds throughout the movie. Notably, it was one of Reeve’s last roles before his tragic accident and he delivers a compassionate portrayal of a man grappling with circumstances beyond human comprehension.

The film incites deep questions about the nature of innocence, the fear of the unknown, and the very essence of humanity itself. It is a narrative built upon unease, and a discomforting vision of a peaceful community grappling with an unexplainable event and its disturbing aftermath.

In summary, Village of the Damned is a psychologically terrifying journey into the unknown spheres of science fiction, leaving viewers with a thrilling sense of dread and ample food for thought. It carries an undeniable undercurrent of tension that permeates every scene, turning a picturesque seaside town into a landscape of terror and unease. While not a horror movie in the traditional sense, its unique blend of suspense and surrealist science-fiction makes it a must-watch for fans of the genre.