ChanBot
i must have seen a different film!!
Curapedi
I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.
Derrick Gibbons
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
Scott LeBrun
"Children of the Damned" is a reasonably entertaining follow-up, rather than sequel, to the 1960 classic "Village of the Damned". It explains its core idea, of a collective of aloof, powerful children, as being something *other* than the product of alien insemination. These kids - six in all - are born to mothers around the globe, without the need for conventional procreation. Officials such as Dr. Tom Llewellyn (Ian Hendry) and Dr. David Neville (Alan Badel) bring the children together for study, only for the kids to break free and hole up inside an abandoned building. They bring along a concerned adult (Barbara Ferris), and are able to build something quite remarkable. Soon, it is determined that these children may pose a serious threat to mankind, due to their superior intellect.Knowing some of the back story, and how this was intended to be a more ambitious examination of mankind and its relationship to its saviours, does give it some substance. Originally, there was a speech by the principal child, Paul (Clive Powell), whereupon he realizes what purpose he and his peers are here to fulfill. With it removed from the picture, the finale just doesn't carry the same weight, although we are still filled with a deep sense of regret. The screenplay by John Briley does a devastating job at showing how differences in thinking and methodology can lessen the chances for education and enlightenment.Once you get over the fact that this is a different variety of sci-fi, with less accent on horror elements, from "Village of the Damned", this does start to look better. If you compare them too much, this is naturally going to come as a letdown to some folk. It's still somewhat sad and scary, just in a different sort of way.The acting is solid from the adults - also including Alfred Burke, Sheila Allen, Patrick Wymark, Harold Goldblatt, and Bessie Love - and just right by the blank-faced children. Powell and the others do a capable job of barely showing any emotion, right up until the end.It's slowly paced, and low key, but it does have its rewards for patient viewers.Seven out of 10.
gavin6942
Scientists discover that there are six children who each have an enormous intelligence. The children are flown to London to be studied, but they each escape their embassy and gather in a church.While this sequel will never have the sort of cult following the original has gained, it is not bad in its own right. What it does is create a story that spans nations, making a not so subtle argument about the advantages of working together rather than being at odds with one another. Coming out in 1964, this was no doubt a jab at the Cold War.There is also the theme of self-preservation. One character remarks that if the children are allowed to grow up and have children of their own, they would some day inherit the earth. This would be an affront to humanity. Or at least humanity as we know it... evolution, which may be great on the whole, looks terrifying to those who are left behind.
AaronCapenBanner
Anton Leader directed this semi-sequel to "Village Of The Damned" that stars Ian Hendry as a sympathetic psychologist in charge of studying six children of high intelligence and different nations who have gathered in a church for an unknown purpose. The military is also involved, and have surrounded them, unsure of how to proceed, as the threat is undetermined. Needless "sequel" doesn't even refer to the events of the first film, despite the title, and is also quite dull and uneventful. It does have fine acting, and some interesting ideas of course, but doesn't handle either of them well, and result is a misfire; stick with the superior "Village" instead.
utgard14
The Village of the Damned was a real classic. So this in-name-only sequel has a lot to live up to and, not surprisingly, it fails. How does it fail? For starters, the children are no longer menacing like they were in the first film. This time they "just want to be understood" or whatever. This film is not a sinister, slightly subversive sci-fi horror film like the first. It's more of a drama with some touches of the original's plot elements to spice it up.Sequels that change gears do not necessarily have to suck. Look at Curse of the Cat People, a brilliant follow-up to Cat People but a completely different kind of film. Unfortunately there's nothing significantly interesting going on here to elevate it above the middle of the pack. It's watchable but not great. See it with extremely low expectations.
