Village of the Damned (1995)

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers:

John Wyndham (book)
Stirling Silliphant (1960 screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

28 April 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Beware the Children

Plot:

A small town's women give birth to unfriendly alien children posing as humans.

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Children | Small Town | Birth | Alien

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Christopher Reeve	...	Dr. Alan Chaffee
Kirstie Alley	...	Dr. Susan Verner
Linda Kozlowski	...	Jill McGowan
Michael Paré	...	Frank McGowan
Meredith Salenger	...	Melanie Roberts
Mark Hamill	...	Reverend George
Pippa Pearthree	...	Sarah, George's Wife
Peter Jason	...	Ben Blum
Constance Forslund	...	Callie Blum
Karen Kahn	...	Barbara Chaffee
Thomas Dekker	...	David McGowan
Lindsey Haun	...	Mara Chaffee
Cody Dorkin	...	Robert
Trishalee Hardy	...	Julie
Jessye Quarry	...	Dorothy
Adam Robbins	...	Issac
Chelsea DeRidder Simms	...	Matt
Renee Rene Simms	...	Casey
Danielle Keaton	...	Lily (as Danielle Wiener)
Hillary Harvey	...	Mara, 1 Year
Bradley Wilhelm	...	David, 1 Year
Jennifer Wilheim	...	Mara / David, 4 Months
George 'Buck' Flower	...	Carlton
Squire Fridell	...	The Sheriff
Darryl Jones	...	Highway Patrolman
Ed Corbett	...	Older Deputy
Ross Martineau	...	Younger Deputy
Skip Richardson	...	Deputy
Tony Haney	...	Dr. Bush
Sharon Iwai	...	Eye Doctor
Robert Lewis Bush	...	Mr. Roberts
Montgomery Hom	...	Technician
Steven Chambers	...	Trooper #1
Ron Kaell	...	Trooper #2
Lane Nishikawa	...	Scientist
Michael Halton	...	Harold, Gas Station Attendant
Julie Eccles	...	Eileen Moore
Lois Saunders	...	Doctor at Clinic
Sidney Baldwin	...	Labor Room Physician
Wendolyn Lee	...	Nurse #5
Kathleen Turco-Lyon	...	Nurse #3
Abigail Van Alyn	...	Nurse #1
Roy Conrad	...	Oliver
Dan Belzer	...	Sam, Young Husband
Dena Martinez	...	Cindy, Young Wife
Alice Barden	...	Woman at Town Hall
John Brebner	...	Man at Town Hall
Ralph Miller	...	Villager
John Carpenter	...	Man at Gas Station Phone (as Rip Haight)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeff Scott	...	Lab Technician (uncredited)

Directed by
John Carpenter

Writing credits
John Wyndham		(book "The Midwich Cuckoos")
Stirling Silliphant		(1960 screenplay) and
Wolf Rilla		(1960 screenplay) and
Ronald Kinnoch		(1960 screenplay) (as George Barclay)
David Himmelstein		(screenplay)
Steven Siebert		uncredited
Larry Sulkis		uncredited

Produced by
Andre Blay	....	executive producer
David Chackler	....	co-producer
Sean Daniel	....	co-executive producer
Shep Gordon	....	executive producer
James Jacks	....	co-executive producer
Sandy King	....	producer
Michael Preger	....	producer
Ted Vernon	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John Carpenter
Dave Davies

Cinematography by
Gary B. Kibbe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Edward A. Warschilka

Casting by
Reuben Cannon
Peter Jason
Sandy King
Cheryl Miller

Production Design by
Rodger Maus

Art Direction by
Christa Munro

Set Decoration by
Rick Brown
Don De Fina

Costume Design by
Robin Michel Bush

Makeup Department
Steven E. Anderson	....	makeup artist
Rob Hinderstein	....	special makeup effects artist
Charlotte Parker	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Jeffrey Sudzin	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christian P. Della Penna	....	first assistant director: second unit
Christian P. Della Penna	....	second assistant director
Jeff Imada	....	second unit director
Colin Michael Kitchens	....	second assistant director: San Francisco (as Mike Kitchens)
Artist W. Robinson	....	first assistant director (as Artist Robinson)
Charles Simmers	....	second second assistant director (as Charles K. Simmers III)

Art Department
Kristin Argue	....	drapery
Pete Bowman	....	construction foreman (as Peter J. Bowman)
James Burke	....	key greensman (as James Burke)
James DiStefano	....	swing gang
Kenneth D. Emanuele	....	construction laborer (as Ken Emanuele)
Kenny Montante	....	assistant property master
Teresa Nielsen	....	head painter
Gary E. Roloff	....	assistant property master
Don Watson	....	on-set dresser
Jody Weisenfeld	....	set dresser
Dwight Williams	....	construction coordinator
Sean Wright	....	carpenter (as Sean J. Wright)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ron Bartlett	....	sound effects pre-dub re-recording mixer
James Bolt	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Jim Bolt)
Joseph F. Brennan	....	boom operator (as Joe Brennan)
Michael C. Casper	....	sound re-recording mixer
Thomas Causey	....	sound mixer
John Dunn	....	supervising sound editor
Julia Evershade	....	supervising adr editor
Stephanie Flack	....	dialogue editor
Evelyn Hokanson	....	foley mixer (as Evelyn Nickle)
James Morioka	....	first assistant sound editor
George Reinhardt	....	cableman
Fred Runner	....	sound mixer: second unit
Charles B. Unger	....	assistant sound editor
Bill Meadows	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roy Arbogast	....	mechanical special effects coordinator
Roy Arbogast	....	mechanical special effects supervisor: second unit
William Butler	....	special effects technician
Evan Campbell	....	special effects makeup crew
Keith Urban	....	special effects assistant
Keith Urban	....	special effects: second unit
Bruno Van Zeebroeck	....	mechanical special effects coordinator
Bruno Van Zeebroeck	....	special effects coordinator
Dick Wood	....	special effects: second unit
Michael Wood	....	special effects: second unit (as Mike Wood)
Larry Odien	....	animatronics (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Sheena Duggal	....	Inferno artist: ILM
Sheena Duggal	....	flame artist: ILM
Howard Gersh	....	digital effects artist
Benton Jew	....	visual effects art director: ILM
Jacqueline Lopez	....	visual effects producer (as Jacqueline M. Lopez)
Mark Moore	....	concept artist
Jim Morris	....	senior staff: ILM
Bruce Nicholson	....	visual effects supervisor
Michael Olague	....	visual effects gaffer
Chad Taylor	....	Sabre artist: ILM
John Torrijos	....	computer graphics assistant
Alan McFarland	....	miniature effects lighting (uncredited)

Stunts
Bobby Bass	....	stunts
Robin Lynn Bonaccorsi	....	stunts (as Robin Bonaccorsi)
Troy Brown	....	stunts
Kurt Bryant	....	stunts
Hal Burton	....	stunts
Rocky Capella	....	stunts
Steven Chambers	....	stunts
Eugene Collier	....	stunts
Paul Crawford	....	stunts
Laura Dash	....	stunts
Lisa Dempsey	....	stunts
Thomas Dewier	....	stunts
Shane Dixon	....	stunts
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunts (as Jon Epstein)
Al Goto	....	stunts
Brian Imada	....	stunts
Jeff Imada	....	stunt coordinator
Jeff Imada	....	stunts
Brad Lackey	....	stunts
Peter Lai	....	stunts
Kevin Larson	....	stunts
Billy D. Lucas	....	stunts (as Billy Lucas)
John Lucasey	....	stunts
Johnny Martin	....	stunts
Mike Martinez	....	stunts
Jeff Mosley	....	stunts
Jimmy Nickerson	....	stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunts
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunts
Jim J. Poslof	....	stunts
Jim J. Poslof	....	utility stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
James Beaumonte	....	grip
J. Chuck Biagio	....	dolly grip
Brian Bibbe	....	second assistant camera
Dustin Blauvelt	....	camera operator: second unit (as Dusty Blauvelt)
William Boatman	....	camera operator
Arthur R. Botham	....	director of photography: second unit
Joseph Emanuele	....	best boy electric: second unit
Joseph Emanuele	....	lamp operator
Jeff Gilliam	....	lamp operator
Jeff Gilliam	....	second unit: gaffer
Brian Kibbie	....	second assistant camera (as Brian Kibbe)
Jon Kranhouse	....	camera operator: second unit
Mark A. Lewis	....	electrician (as Mark Lewis)
Gary McClendon	....	electrician
Steve Peterson	....	first assistant camera
Dane Spelman	....	grip
William Waldman	....	camera operator

Casting Department
David Giella	....	casting associate
Helen Taylor	....	casting assistant

Editorial Department
Mato	....	color timer
Paul C. Warschilka	....	first assistant editor: film

Music Department
Bruce Robb	....	Musician: Hammond B3 organ/percussion
Bruce Robb	....	music editing
Bruce Robb	....	music mixer
Bruce Robb	....	music producer
Bruce Robb	....	music supervisor
Bruce Robb	....	music contractor (uncredited)
Bruce Robb	....	music engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
William Hogue	....	driver
Jill Wattles	....	driver (as Jill Wattles)

Other crew
John Alfred	....	first assistant accountant
Benu Bhandari	....	script supervisor
Karin Costa	....	assistant to director
Christopher Desmond	....	set medic
Gina Gilberto	....	assistant production coordinator
Rock LeRoy	....	caterer
Ernie Malik	....	unit publicist
Cheryl Miller	....	production coordinator
Glenn Nicol	....	production accountant
Stefanie Pleet	....	location manager
Tom Prince	....	production executive
Mayo Sanchez	....	assistant to producer
Sean Sobczak	....	production assistant
Sean Whitler	....	set production assistant
Mariana Tosca	....	body double (uncredited)
Virginia Travers	....	lead stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• Alphaville Films

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (????) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1995) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (199?) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Greece) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1997) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• CIC Video I/S (199?) (Denmark) (VHS)
• CIC Video (1996) (Germany) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (199?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2001) (Finland) (TV)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1995) (Finland) (VHS)
• Pioneer (1997) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Universal Home Video (2009) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film collection)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
• K.N.B. Effects Group (special make-up effects)
• Slagle Minimotion (live-action miniatures)

Other Companies

• Back Seat Casting Associates  casting
• Cherokee Studios  original music recorded and mixed at
• Hayes & Van Horn Casting  San Francisco and extras casting
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Reuben Cannon & Associates  children's casting
• Robb Brothers, The  music production
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

"John Carpenter's Village of the Damned" - USA (complete title)
"El pueblo de los malditos" - Argentina (imdb display title), Mexico (imdb display title), Spain (imdb display title), Spain (Castilian title) (imdb display title)
"Le village des damnés" - Canada (French title), France
"A Cidade dos Amaldiçoados" - Brazil
"A Cidade dos Malditos" - Portugal
"Das Dorf der Verdammten" - Germany
"De fördömdas by" - Sweden (video title)
"Den fortabte by" - Denmark (video title)
"Elátkozottak faluja" - Hungary (imdb display title)
"I poli ton kataramenon" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"John Carpenters Das Dorf der Verdammten" - Germany (complete title)
"Kirottu kaupunki" - Finland (video title)
"Kirottujen kaupunki" - Finland (TV title)
"Lanetliler Kasabasi" - Turkey (Turkish title) (DVD title)
"Ondskans barn" - Sweden (imdb display title)
"Selo ukletih" - Serbia
"Villaggio dei dannati" - Italy

MPAA:

Rated R for some sci-fi terror and violence

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo | DTS | Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:14A (British Columbia/Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Italy:VM18 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1995) (VHS) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (2000) (DVD) | Philippines:R-13 | Chile:14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Singapore:PG13 (re-rating) | Australia:M | Germany:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | UK:15 (video premiere) | USA:R (certificate #33781) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Inverness, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

This was the final feature film completed by Christopher Reeve before a horse riding accident on 27 May 1995 left him paralyzed.

Goofs:

Continuity: Mara's white tights become blue anklets during her first visit to the Midwich Clinic.

Quotes:

Dr. Alan Chaffee:[walks into the barn where the children are] Another man is dead. Why do you hate us so much, Mara?
Mara Chaffee:It isn't a matter of hate. It is a biological obligation.
[short pause]
Mara Chaffee:You are thinking of what happened to the others. Then our actions shouldn't surprise you. We have to survive no matter what the cost; we are the only ones left now.
Dr. Alan Chaffee:I don't see why we can't reach an understanding. Why can't we just live together?
Mara Chaffee:If we coexist, we shall dominate you. That is inevitable. Eventually you will try to eliminate us. We are all creatures of the life force. Now it was set us at one another to see who will survive.
Dr. Alan Chaffee:That's a cruel sport.
Mara Chaffee:Life is cruelty. We all feed on each other, exploit each other in some way to survive.
Dr. Alan Chaffee:[shakes his head] I don't agree with you.
[walks over to where Mara is sitting]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: Big Man on Hippocampus (#8.10)" (2010)

Different Remake and Feel of the 1960 Black and White film.

In the quiet small town in Southern California. Something terribly goes wrong in the small village of Midwich. After an unseen force invades a quiet coastal town. Ten woman mysteriously find themselves pregnant. Local Doctor (Christopher Reeve) and an mysterious government scientist Dr. Susan Verner (Kristie Alley) decide to help each other. When the woman simultaneously give birth... and the reign of terror begins.

This is a remake of the 1960 Classic film. The new version is directed by John Carpenter (Escape From New York, Escape From L.A.). Carpenter gives this version with much more explicit violence. Although the original was much more eerie but Carpenter manages to top several key scenes from the original. One of the Highlights of this remake is the Strong Performances by Reeve, Alley, Linda Kozlowski, Mark Hamill (as a Priest!), Thomas Deeker as David and Lindsey Haun "The Leader of the Emotionless Children".

The Remake does look better in Color than the 1960 Black & White original. This new version was a Box Office disappointment. The film plays better on Video than it did in Theaters but it is a must see in Widescreen, especially Gary B. Kibbe's terrific cinematography. Carpenter cut several scenes before the film's release. Scenes like 9 infants getting up together in the same time (Which is a Babies Puppet F/X from K.N.B EFX Group), 8 Children Attacked and Probably Killing Three Other Children. There is good visual effects by Industrial, Light and Magic. Carpenter Co-Composed the film's music.

DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an terrific-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD Features are the Original Theatrical Trailer, Bonus Trailer from Other Films and Production Notes. It would have better if the DVD has an audio commentary by Carpenter and Deleted Scenes. We might have these features on a Future DVD but highly doubtful from this Underrated film. One of the few underrated film by John Carpenter. Panavision. (****/*****).