Latest news with #TheDamned
Axios
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
Weekend events in the Bay Area: Block parties, book fair and more
Get outside and enjoy the nice weather this weekend by attending these events. Friday 🕺 Fridays on Front Street: The city's newest downtown block party will be hosting its first event with live music, food pop-ups and by showing the Giants game. 4-9pm at 240 Front St. 🎸 The Damned at UC Theater: The legendary British punk rock band will be performing top hits, including "New Rose" and "Neat Neat Neat." Doors open at 7pm at 2036 University Avenue in Berkeley. Tickets start at $51. 🍧 Fort Mason Night Market: West Coast Craft and Off the Grid are teaming up to launch a monthly event featuring 100 retail vendors and nearly 20 food and drink options. 4-9pm at 2 Marina Boulevard. Saturday 🏳️🌈 SF LGBT Center House Party: The center will be hosting its second annual kick-off to the 2025 pride season with live entertainment, a clothing closet, art exhibit and more. Noon-6pm at 1800 Market St. 🥁 Union Street Festival: One of the city's biggest street festivals returns this year in the Marina with local craft brews, live entertainment and family-friendly games. 1-7pm Saturday and Sunday on Union Street between Fillmore and Gough. 📚 Bay Area Book Fair: This year's event will feature readings, panels, writers workshops and a lively outdoor block party. 🇮🇹 Festa Italiana: Celebrating North Beach's longstanding Italian community. 11am-6pm on Saturday and 11am-4:15pm on Sunday on Stockton Street between Union and Filbert. Sunday 🍷 Waiters Race: Teams of restaurant servers will compete in a fast-paced challenge while attempting to balance a tray with full drinks without spilling.
New York Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘The Damned' Review: Unfortunate Sons
The skies are overcast and the tone is contemplative in 'The Damned,' as a small company of Union Army soldiers sets out in 1862 to explore the dangerously unmapped territories of the American West. What emerges, though, is more akin to a mood poem than a war movie. In keeping with the socially conscious sensibilities of its director, the Italian-born Roberto Minervini (whose previous work has sometimes probed the forgotten souls of rural Texas and urban Louisiana), 'The Damned' is shaped as a wistful and laconic study of the minutiae of survival. Though billed as his first fiction film, it wobbles tantalizingly on a permeable line between narrative and documentary. Unscripted events and largely unnamed characters emerge organically from the director's offscreen prompts and the men's immersion in the life of the camp where much of the movie takes place. This means that, for long stretches, we're watching the soldiers pitch tents, play cards, do laundry and complain about the deepening winter and declining rations. Embedded alongside the men, we eavesdrop on conversations that range from instructive to confessional, hopeful to cautiously philosophical. They have come from all over, with beliefs as varied as their reasons for enlisting. A golden-haired 16-year-old admits to having shot only rabbits and squirrels before following his father and older brother into the Army. When the three pray together, secure in their faith that the only happiness lies in the afterlife, his innocence is heartbreaking. If God is here at all, he's in the details: the pot of coffee bubbling on a laboriously built fire; the dusting of snow on a pitch-black beard; the veins of gold in a lump of quartz. 'This land has it all,' one man marvels, seeing beyond the conflict to the promise of the soil and the wildlife around them. At times, these moments are acutely lyrical, as when we watch a soldier lovingly clean his horse's head (of mud or blood, we don't know), then press his forehead against the animal in silent communion. Politics is almost entirely absent, along with its accompanying animosities. When a Virginian, who joined up in defiance of his slave-owning neighbors, quietly announces that 'putting people in chains is wrong,' there is no argument from those comrades who are simply there for the paycheck. By contrast, the ease of the film's early rhythms and the intimacy of Carlos Alfonso Corral's images have an almost lulling effect, the sense of tranquillity so strong that when the shooting starts, the shock is real. For a time, all is chaos, the men frantically running, apparently without direction or strategy. Are they heading toward or away from the invisible shooters? We assume they're being ambushed by Confederate snipers, or perhaps even the silent cowboys who circled them one day, but the director doesn't clarify. Pointlessness is his point, as is terror, exemplified by the trembling soldier who desperately hunkers his body against a hillock, the competence and confidence he displayed in earlier scenes already melted away. Shot in Montana in 2022, using mainly nonprofessional actors (including local firefighters and members of the National Guard), 'The Damned' relies on improvised dialogue and a resolute refusal to manufacture tension or good guy-bad guy distinctions. The style is impressionistic and minimalist: Sometimes the only illumination is a flaming torch, the only color Union blue, the only soundtrack the howling of wolves. Cold and hunger and a general aimlessness give the men — and us — time to reflect on the horror of a mission that requires them to kill their fellow countrymen. And when one man remarks that many of his beliefs had later turned out to be false, even the family of Baptists has no answer. In the movie's final section, a hushed mournfulness prevails as the dead are buried and the company searches for a route through the mountains. Minervini, who moved to New York just months before the Sept. 11 attacks, isn't interested in lecturing us on pacifism. Yet as we once again experience a painfully divided nation, we're also occupying a cinematic space between the past of 'The Damned' and the near-future schism of Alex Garland's 'Civil War' (2024). In that space, we can clearly see how far we have come and how little we have learned.
Tom's Guide
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
One of the most gripping dark thrillers I've seen is now on Hulu — and this movie is a psychological nightmare
When modern horror leans heavily on cheap thrills and jump scares, a dose of eerie 19th-century dread feels like a refreshing change of pace. That's exactly the case with 'The Damned,' a haunting thriller that uses dramatic terror to send shivers down your spine, literally. I unfortunately didn't get the chance to see 'The Damned' in theaters, but I streamed it when it became available for purchase on digital services back in January. Now that it's found a proper streaming home on Hulu, it feels like the perfect time to talk about it, considering it somewhat slipped through the cracks. If you're into spooky horror-thrillers that thrive on atmosphere and slow-burning tension, 'The Damned' is absolutely worth a watch. And if you're just dipping your toes into the genre, this one makes for a solid starting point. It's not overly gory or complex, as it chooses to lean into an unnerving, character-driven story about what happens when people make the wrong choice and have to live with the consequences. So, if you've seen 'The Damned' floating around on Hulu, here's why you need to add it to your watchlist now. 'The Damned' is set in a remote 19th-century Icelandic fishing outpost. The story follows Eva (Odessa Young), a young widow who has taken over her late husband's role as leader of a small crew struggling to survive an unforgiving winter. With supplies dwindling and isolation deepening, the crew faces a dire situation. When a foreign ship wrecks on the nearby jagged rocks, Eva and her crew are confronted with a harrowing decision: attempt to rescue the survivors and risk their own survival, or leave them to perish. Choosing the latter, they soon find their situation worsening. Strange occurrences begin to plague the outpost —bodies wash ashore with unsettling signs, and the crew experiences eerie visions and escalating paranoia. As fear and superstition take hold, the line between reality and folklore blurs, particularly with the ominous presence of the draugr, a revenant from Nordic legend. It was perfect timing that the temperature had suddenly dropped and my house felt like a walk-in freezer, because it meant I got the full effect while watching 'The Damned.' I ended up hiding under my blanket, not only due to the movie's atmosphere having a placebo effect, but because I was genuinely on edge the whole time and needed some form of comfort. That alone proves how effective 'The Damned' is as a creepy thriller. In the opening minutes, we meet Eva and her small crew of fishermen, tucked away in an isolated outpost. They're discussing the importance of catching fish, even at the cost of their deteriorating physical and mental health. Eva, however, argues that her crew's well-being is the most important thing to her. The very next scene throws you into the snowy landscape. It's a beautifully shot movie, and I have a lot of appreciation for director Thordur Palsson, who builds mounting dread through lingering shots of the distant sea and the crew's pale, blank stares. With a taut runtime of 89 minutes, the movie wastes no time introducing the central conflict, which kicks off when the crew spots a sinking ship and chooses to do nothing. From there, things get pretty bleak. 'The Damned' is a slow-burn thriller so don't expect shocking reveals every few minutes to keep you on edge. Instead, it draws you in through its characters and the gradual unraveling of their psyches. Rooted in folk horror, the story leans into themes of superstition, especially the importance of putting the dead to rest properly. Ava, however, resists these traditions, partly because she doesn't want to rattle the men when they're already suffering from guilt. But as time passes, 'The Damned' begins to emotionally wear down its characters, showing how one grim situation can turn them against each other. As Daniel (Joe Cole), one of the fishermen, puts it: 'The living are always more dangerous than the dead.' And that proves all too true as tensions rise and the crew begins to splinter from within. 'The Damned' is an effective little movie that works at making you feel cold and anxious until the very last second. Odessa Young is a strong lead, and she portrays fear with such genuine emotion that every time she appeared on screen, I knew something bad was going to happen based on her expression. Joe Cole, who you might recognize from 'Peaky Blinders,' brings a softness to his character that makes him easy to root for — especially with his quietly building romance with Ava, which adds even more emotional weight to their fate. While the rest of the crew mostly serve as fresh meat for when things inevitably go south, the brief scenes of them dancing and singing together do help them feel like a close-knit group, even if most of their characters aren't deeply developed. Most of all, 'The Damned' works at being a simple horror-thriller, and it's nice to see something go back to the genre's roots. There are still some grotesque moments and eerie shots of a dark figure cracking its decaying bones in the corner of the room (familiar visuals for fans of the genre), but it all comes together to make this a chilling and worthwhile watch. If you're in the mood for something that builds slow, creeping dread rather than relying on loud jump scares, 'The Damned' is one to watch. It respects the viewer's intelligence and focuses more on atmosphere and emotion than spectacle. With a lean runtime and plenty of tension, it's a perfect late-night watch when you're craving something eerie but grounded. Hulu has quietly picked up a hidden gem here, so if you're scrolling for something genuinely chilling, add 'The Damned' to your watchlist. For more streaming recommendations, see what else is new on Hulu in May 2025.
Miami Herald
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Epic Rocker Granted Dying Wish, Buried at Sea
A legendary rocker of the British punk scene was granted his dying wish when his loved ones buried him at sea. Brian James, the punk rock guitarist who founded British group The Damned, died on March 6 at the age of 70. On April 28, his friends and family gathered to lay him to rest on the ocean floor off the coast of East Sussex, England, according to The UK Sun. The burial was held after a small church service in Brighton. James' widow, Minna, told The Sun this week about the burial and said, "It was a beautiful day and the sea was calm. We've been together since I was 18, so it was very emotional. A burial at sea is pretty unusual, but it was in his will, so we had to do it." Another unnamed source told The Sun, "Brian now sleeps with the fishes, which is what he wished for before he died. He was a true original in life and has carried that on in death. "The spirit of punk never left him, and he was adamant he wanted his final resting place to be at sea. A few loved ones went out on the boat for around three hours and watched as his coffin was dropped into the drink." According to The Sun, a local funeral home had to apply for a special permit from the Marine Management Organisation in order to perform the burial at sea. The family announced James' death on his Facebook page back in March, writing, "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James." He was survived by Minna and his son Charlie, and daughter-in-law Alicia. James is often credited with writing the "first ever UK punk single," the 1976 song "New Rose," which music critic Dave Thompson called "rightly revered as one of the greatest songs to emerge from 1970s Britain." After his tenure with The Damned from 1976 to 1978, James went on to co-found the British-American punk group The Lords of the New Church, which was together throughout the 1980s and then reunited several times since the year 2000. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Metro
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
70s rock icon granted his dying wish to be buried at sea
Brian James of The Damned has been buried at sea (Picture: Erica Echenberg/Redferns) Brian James, founding member of the iconic British band The Damned, has reportedly been granted his dying wish of being buried at sea. James passed away on March 6 at the age of 70. The news was announced in a post on his Facebook page, immediately receiving an outpouring of support from fans in the comments. A cause of death has not been revealed, although he died 'peacefully' with his family by his side, according to the post. The post read: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James.' According to The Sun, James was buried last week on the sea floor off the coast of Newhaven, East Sussex, England, in accordance with his final wishes. The Damned was comprised of Captain Sensible, Brian James, and Rat Scabies (Picture: Elisa Leonelli/REX/Shutterstock) James wrote many of the group's most iconic songs (Picture: Ian Dickson/REX/Shutterstock) His widow Minna, son, Charlie, and around 10 of his closest friends were in attendance at the unorthodox funeral ceremony. Minna told the publication: 'It was a beautiful day and the sea was calm. We've been together since I was 18, so it was very emotional. A burial at sea is pretty unusual, but it was in his will so we had to do it.' Another source told The Sun: 'Brian now sleeps with the fishes, which is what he wished for before he died. He was a true original in life and has carried that on in death. 'The spirit of punk never left him and he was adamant he wanted his final resting place to be at sea. A few loved ones went out on the boat for around three hours and watched as his coffin was dropped into the drink.' The initial 'burial' ceremony, which took place on a boat, was followed by an additional gathering at a church near James' home in Brighton. James' widow says one of his final wishes was to be buried at sea (Picture: Andre Csillag/REX/Shutterstock) James had a long and impressive career that included writing the iconic song New Rose. On 22 October 1977, five weeks before the release of the Sex Pistols' Anarchy in the U.K., Stiff Records released the Damned's first single New Rose, making it the first-ever punk single in the UK. Released in February 1977, James was also the primary creative force behind the band's debut album, Damned Damned Damned. The Damned was founded in 1976 by lead vocalist Dave Vanian, guitarist Brian James, bassist (and later guitarist) Captain Sensible, and drummer Rat Scabies. Considered pioneers of the genre, nine of the band's singles charted on the UK Singles Chart Top 40. With a career that closely mirrored the Sex Pistols (they even planned to audition Sid Vicious as lead vocalist) The Damned played their first show on 6 July 1976, supporting the Sex Pistols at the 100 Club. The band was one of the biggest trailblazers of UK punk (Picture: by Jorgen Angel/Redferns) The guitarist also helmed other bands like The Dripping Lips and the Brian James Gang (Picture: PA) After the band's second album, James left the band to form the group Tanz Der Youth, which only lasted a short time before he founded The Lords of the New Church with Stiv Bators. The band was known for songs like Open Your Eyes, Dance with Me, and Method to My Madness. Other bands the talented guitarist helmed over the years included The Dripping Lips and the Brian James Gang. He was also a successful solo artist and worked with punk and rock icons like Iggy Pop (who he toured with as Iggy's guitarist in 1979), Wayne Kramer, Stewart Copeland, and Cheetah Chrome throughout his six-decade career. Back in March, Brian's ex-Damned bandmate Raymond 'Captain Sensible' Burns posted a tribute online, sharing a photo of himself with Brian on X. Burns wrote: 'We're shocked to hear that creator of The Damned, our great chum Brian James has sadly gone. A lovely bloke that I feel so lucky to have met all those years ago and for some reason chose me to help in his quest for the music revolution that became known as punk.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. Arrow MORE: Gloria Gaynor: 'The biggest misconception about me? That I'm a feminist' Arrow MORE: The Sopranos star Charley Scalies dies aged 84 after Alzheimer's diagnosis
