In London, the military Alan Bernard (Michael Gwynn) is talking to his brother-in-law Gordon Zellaby (George Sanders) in Midwich by telephone when there is a communication breakdown with the village. Alan heads to the British village and finds that all the inhabitants have fallen unconscious at the same time and who else crosses the borderline faints. Out of the blue, the inhabitants awake at the same time. Two months later Anthea Zellaby (Barbara Shelley) tells her husband Gordon that she is pregnant. But soon, the local Dr. Willers (Laurence Naismith) and Gordon realizes that every woman in the village of childbearing age is pregnant.

Anthea and the other women deliver perfect children and soon Dr. Willers note that all the children have strange eyes, short fingernails and different blond hair. Gordon also finds that his son David (Martin Stephens) is a leader of the children that have no feelings and what one learns, the others also learn. Further they are capable to read and control minds and are a menace to the inhabitants of Midwich. Will Gordon be capable to keep the children under control?

"Village of the Damned" is a mysterious and scary horror movie, with an original story in the style of "The Twilight Zone". The plot is intriguing and has not aged. The performances are excellent and the simple special effect of the eyes of the children associated to their performances is frightening. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil):"A Aldeia dos Amaldiçoados" ("The Village of the Damned")

I am giving this film a 10 based on the "bang for the buck" it provides. Despite having a small budget, few special effects and an unknown cast (aside from George Sanders),it is an engrossing and terrifying sci-fi adventure.

The movie begins with a VERY STRANGE occurrence--a small village just STOPS. All people life within the village stops--machinery, animals and people. And, when the military tries to enter the town, the soldiers just STOP as well--falling into comas. Then, just as suddenly, everyone awakens--none the worse for wear. Or so it would seem, for later, many women in this small hamlet are found to be pregnant! Once these little bundles of joy are born, the fun begins as these brilliant but disturbingly freaky kids slowly scare the crap out of everyone--especially as they walk, talk and look alike and speak as one (sort of like an evil version of Huey, Dewey and Louie)! And, it turns out, they are apparently unstoppable and up to some sort of evil (though exactly what they intend is uncertain--but it MUST be bad considering their evil proclivities)!

NOTE: Do NOT see the supposed sequel, "Children of the Damned". It's terrible. Instead of the kids harassing people (such as making them crash their cars into walls or blow their heads off),the kids are misunderstood and only want to live in peace!! What crap--I want murder and global domination!

Another NOTE: Do NOT see the recent remake of Village of the Damned. It lacks the subtlety of the original and just does NOTHING to improve an already great film.

It occurred to me while watching Village Of The Damned that if George Sanders hadn't been talking to his brother-in-law Michael Gwynne an army officer when the mass fainting started, whoever was behind the events in the film might have gotten away with whatever the plan was. As it was they very nearly did.

But in fact that's what happens which leads Gwynne down to the typical English country village of Midwich to see why the phone line seemed to go dead midst conversation for no reason. This brings in the military eventually and a cordon of secrecy is put on the events when it seems the whole town within a defined perimeter was given a cosmic Mickey Finn.

Even stranger though nine months to the day of the event, several women of child bearing age give birth to some very strange children with blond hair and piercing eyes that turn red with concentration. Barbara Shelley who is Sanders's wife is among those who are impregnated by forces beyond their control or comprehension. These kids herd together and as collective they develop some frightening psychic powers.

The most frightening thing about Village Of The Damned is that even with the government closely monitoring the situation the most they do is keep the news of the phenomenon from spreading. Otherwise they are totally helpless to prevent or even stunt what is happening.

These children remind of Star Trek's The Borg collective. In fact you have to wonder is this how the Borg got started.

Village Of The Damned is a sinister horror picture with a well picked cast giving believable performances of concern and fright. It mixes the horror and science fiction genres quite well. And it's not to be missed when broadcast.