By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"The Damned" isn't your typical blood-and-guts war drama. Written and directed by Roberto Minervini ("What You Gonna Do When the World's on Fire?"), the film features an unremarkable cast and is weighed down by a sluggish, often cumbersome narrative.
Set in 1862, during the bitter depths of winter, "The Damned" follows a small volunteer Union army squad as they navigate the harsh terrain of the Montana Territory.
Few among them are eager soldiers; each has their own reasons for enlisting. For one battle-hardened veteran (Jeremiah Knupp in his feature film debut), it's all about collecting a paycheck. Others, like a pair of young brothers (Timothy Carlson and Noah Carlson), are driven by duty, their religion, and a desire to honor their father’s legacy.
Though "The Damned" offers a few introspective moments, it lingers too long in quiet, low-stakes conversations that never reveal much depth about the men. Scenes of hunting, sitting around campfires, and posturing for one another dominate the first half, giving the film a meditative tone but little dramatic momentum.
Viewers hoping for a bigger emotional payoff may find themselves waiting too long. There is minimal action until the film's second half, and even then, the sneak attack from the enemy that we don't see, all arrives too late to fully engage.
Minervini's minimalist style and eye for atmosphere are evident, and he scores points for that, but “The Damned” ultimately feels more like a mood piece than a compelling war drama. While the movie attempts to explore the emotional cost of war in a hushed, poetic way, it never quite delivers the character insight or tension needed to make its message resonate.
In the end, "The Damned" aims for thoughtful reflection over spectacle, but its lack of urgency and underdeveloped characters leave it feeling emotionally distant. This is a war story that whispers when it should have at least sometimes roared.
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Watch This Trailer For
"THE DAMNED"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
