Village of the Damned (1960) Uncanny Child to (Evil) Other

Village of the Damned (1960)

Uncanny Child to (Evil) Other

“Fairly Faithful” Adaptation

• Based on John Wyndham’s popular novelThe Midwich Cuckoos (1957)

Screenplay

AmericaSterling Silliphant

meant for Ronald Coleman

EnglandWolf RillaRonald KinnochJohn Wyndham (Novel)

Sequel:Children of the Damned (1963)

Remake:John Carpenter directs in 1995

Crew

Director – Wolf RillaMusic – Ron Goodwin

Visual Effects – Tom HowardBudget – $200,000

Reception – “A Certificate”

Martin Stephens ... David Zellaby

Barbara Shelley ... Anthea Zellaby

George Sanders ... Gordon Zellaby

Influences?

Italo Cavino’s “Sleeping Beauty” as retold in Italian Folktales (1956)

Influences?

The Bad Seed Novel and Play – 1954; Film – 1956

Influences?

1954

Concept of the Child

Innocent

Concept of the Child

Tabula Rasa –Blank Slate

Concept of the Child

Rebel

Evil Children Subgenre Subgenre of Horror genreStarted with The Bad Seed (1956)Spread by Village of the Damned (1960)

Films“It’s a Good Life” Twilight Zone episode (1961)Who Can Kill a Child? (1976, U. S. title, “Island of the Damned”)The Omen (1976)Children of the Corn (1984)The Good Son (1993)Let Me In (2010)

Fear of the Unknown

Appearance ≠ Reality

Appearance ≠ Reality

Appearance ≠ Reality

Uncanny

Uncanny

Uncanny

Uncanny

Uncanny

Uncanny

Other

Other

Uncanny -> Marvelous Text?

Us? Other!

Masculinity & Class

Masculinity & Class

Masculinity & Class

Masculinity & Class

Masculinity & Class

Masculinity & Class

Masculinity & Class

Masculinity & Class

Masculinity & Class

Faustian Figure?

Kiss that Tells

Kiss that Tells

What SF motifs are missing?

• Spacecraft• The word “alien”• Don’t “watch the skies”• The media response• Big military action• Change in view of universe

What else is missing?

• “Good” children

Show—Don’t Tell

• Words like “pregnancy” and “virgin”• Lower class males’ reaction to

pregnancy news

Links & Connections

The Omen (1976)

Let Me In(2010)

(1993)

Who Can Kill a Child ? (1976)

Links & ConnectionsThe Happening (2008)

Forget the skies—watch the children!