These Are the Damned

This was the final film in the super excellent The Icons of Suspense Collection: Hammer Films five-disc DVD set. Unlike the other movies in the set, this one isn’t a straight up thriller. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say this one takes an unlikely sci-fi turn at about the halfway point. Up until that moment it’s a sordid tale of set of rebellious teddy boys and their torment of an American who has fallen for the gang leader’s sister. If it wasn’t for the fact that the actor playing the American lead is about three times the age of his love interest I may have liked this section of the movie more. As is, it’s just creepy and unbelievable (an this is before the ridiculous sci-fi stuff comes in). The only saving grace is the awesome rockin’ and a-rollin’ music in the background. Once the movie shifts things start to get dark and interesting. I still think this is the weakest of the films in the collection, but its twisted nihilism of the ending makes up for its plot and character shortcomings.