VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED

UK, 1960, 80 minutes, Black and White.
George Sanders, Barbara Shelley, Michael Gwynne, Martin Stephens, Laurence Naismith, Peter Vaughan.
Directed by Wolf Rilla.

Village of the Damned is a small science fiction film, made in England in the sixties. It is based on a John Wyndham story, "The Midwich Cuckoos". It is an interesting adaptation of Wyndham's story and his themes. The black and white photography, the creation of atmosphere, the suggestion of the unknown are all quite vividly communicated. The film was so effective that a sequel, "Children of the Damned", was produced soon after.

1. Did this film appeal as good science fiction? Why?

2. How well did the pre-credit sequences establish setting and atmosphere: quiet, English, the mysterious blacking-out of the people? How did the film keep audience curiosity roused?

3. Who has the responsibility to avoid panic in such situations? Was this handled well?

4. was the conflict aroused by the mysterious pregnancies well presented?

5. Who were these children? Who was responsible for their conception?

6. How was their mysterious nature visually communicated, their growth and evil?

7. Once they started harming people, did Zellaby have an obligation to stop them? Why was he obsessed with their minds and their capacity to read others' minds? Was it prudent for him to take responsibility for them for a year?

8. What impact did their mesmerising and killing people have on the audience? How much revulsion? why?

9. Did Zellaby do the right thing in destroying them? How successful was the visualising of his thinking on the brick wall?

10. What was the point behind this science-fiction effort? What is the value of films like this?