Village of the Damned (1960): (Scary) Kids Are People Too!

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Shirleon joins Melvin to discuss the 1960s Village of the Damned! Combining weird fiction with childhood mischief, this sci-fi horror offers a lot to chew on, and the two try and parse through everything they can. Join them as they explore concepts of power, small-town fear, homegrown ideological invasions, and so much more! 

Topics:

• Editor’s Note: No Patreon Exclusive discussion! But, I do intend to trim this episode down from its original 1:45:52 length, so if you want to hear the UNCUT version, tune in on Patreon here!
• The hook for the film is incredible, and each new development is stranger than the last.
• Shirleon talks about the original book “The Midwich Cuckoos“.
• There is a complete dearth of information surrounding the event of Midwich which undoubtedly adds to the cosmic horror.
• Melvin talks about what he believes is “the philosophy of the film” which is essentially about the personhood and potential of children.
• Shirleon reads a passage from the book and explores what it is she loves so much about this story.
• Getting into the ending and its culmination of themes.
• Age-based dynamics of mature and immature uses of power.
• Self-destruction is the result of holding self-preservation too tightly.

Recommendations:

• Clair Obscur Expedition 33 (2025) (Video Game)
• The Blair Witch Project (1999) (Movie)

Village of the Damned (1960) is Approved. It features George Sanders, Barbara Shelley, Martin Stephens, and Michael Gwynn. Directed by Wolf Rilla. Village of the Damned (1960) is available here.

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Melvin Benson is the Founder, Editor-In-Chief, and Lead Host of Cinematic Doctrine. Whether it’s a movie, show, game, comic, or novel, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s rich, he’s ready and willing to give it a try! His hope is to see King Jesus glorified as far as the east is from the west!

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