The Children of The Village of The Damned

[lukemorningstar]

Hello again Vault friends - I havent been on here for a very long while - I've got lots of excuses (learning a new job, doing an OU degree - and the crippling smack habit of course***) but I'm going to have my evenings back for a while and have been watching loads of old Horror and Sci-Fi movies, reading, blogging and generally doing the kind of stuff that helps me wind down a bit after a mad year last year.

Anyhow, hope you are all well (those of you who may remember me)

I recently watched the two 'Of The Damned' movies back to back - I think they are both excellent and I'd struggle to pick a favourite from the two. I love the edginess and paranoia in these two movies, and the kids in both are really creepy.

Other than to ask what (if any) views any of you may have on these movies, and to ask for any recommendations on the basis of 'if you liked those you'll enjoy........." I suppose my question is, who would win in a scrap between the blondies of 'Village' or the United Nations of Children?

I'll try and stick around here a bit more regularly this year and maybe review another Pan anthology or two, but in the meantime it's great to see the site still going great guns!

All the best

Colin (Luke)

*** just kidding of course, I'm doing an NVQ4


thethoughtsofchairmanarthur.blogspot.com

[killercrab]

THE DAMNED ( U.S. title THESE ARE THE DAMNED) . Children being brought up for a nuclear world - bonus is Oliver Reed on excellent form. 1960's flick from Hammer . Harsh and angular.

You might also like these b/w brit sci-fi flicks. :

THE EARTH DIES SCREAMING
INVASION
UNEARTHLY STRANGER
THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE
THE NIGHT CALLER

A

[lukemorningstar]

Great recommendations - thanks. Of those, I did recently watch 'The Day The Earth Caught Fire' which I had misconceived completely, thinking it would be an American Cold War / Nuclear paranoia sci fi effort - but was totally off the mark. It's as good a press room drama as it is a sci-fi movie with both Edward Judd and Leo McKern in top form.

I saw the version with the red tinting at the beginning and end. Loved the 'youth riot' scenes with all the cool jazz playing!

I saw 'The Earth Dies Screaming' years ago and must try and track it down again. Those robots in the quaint small town in England setting! A bit like the Cybermen walking through London in the old Patrick Troughton Dr Who stories. And of course you have Thorley Walters playing a drunk which is always a bonus (note 'Frankenstein Created Woman' also) The 'zombies' were pretty menacing too.

Right that settels it - will track down the other films on your list, and 'Earth Dies Screaming' for a repeat view.

That's my weekend sorted.

Colin

[dem bones]

hi luke, good to hear from you. they're both excellent, but for me, The Damned just shades it: it's creepy and convincingly pessimistic, and Oliver Reed is terrific as a mixed-up JD, even if his cronies are a bit wet. the kids from Children ... are probably harder, though. they're comfortable with the power and potentially lethal.

KC. did you get around to reading that A. V. Sellwood novelisation of Children Of The Damned yet?

[killercrab]

Not as yet ! I have a few books already on the go - Dan Simmons' ILIUM ( I can read big books too:) , Ramsey Campbell's THE HUNGRY MOON ( evangelical preachers , druidical sacraficial cave and man in the moon monster - what more you want?) and a biography ( N.C.Wyeth - American illustrator).

Sorry not to be rattling my cage much at the moment - but I am around.

KC

[stuyoung]

Watched Village of the Damned the other day. Good fun but not quite the classic I was hoping for. Tickled by the village bobby being played by genial Harry Grout off of Porridge.