VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED

CAPSULE REVIEW –– A campy, sci-fi/horror classic that looks better than it scares. Maybe children bent on evil was an unusual and creepy concept in 1960, but kids that kill is so commonplace in the 21st century, the idea is not very disturbing or unthinkable. The gorgeous B&W cinematography gives the film a sinister vibe that adds weight to the underdeveloped plot. The film opens with a bang: an entire English village rendered unconscious for over an hour, as if under a spell. No one can explain the strange event or the unparalled fallout. Every woman capable of bearing a child becomes pregnant. The children – all born healthy though technically premature – not only look alike, but share their thoughts. As they get older, their sinister plan begins to take shape. The main problem with the film is we never find out exactly what that is. I guess the filmmakers thought 12 children using mind control to wreak havoc on their small town was frightening enough. Sure, people die, but the lack of story direction leaves the action flat. Sanders gives the only standout performance as a professor and "father" of one of the children bent on discovering what's behind their chilling glare. In the end, he takes matters into his own hands, ridding the world of these unnatural offspring. Worth a look for fans of the genre.