The Damned

The ending of The Damned leaves its audience pondering whether the supernatural creature, the draugur, was truly responsible for the fishermen’s madness and suffering, or if it was merely a product of their guilt, fear, and isolation. Throughout the film, the characters become progressively haunted by the idea of the undead, especially after witnessing the shipwreck, discovering the corpses, and experiencing strange occurrences. Helga’s folklore about draugurs—reanimated corpses that return from the dead—becomes a focal point, fueling the characters’ fears that they are being tormented by vengeful spirits. Eva, in particular, believes that burning the cabin is the only way to rid herself of the creature, and she confronts her terror head-on in a desperate attempt to destroy what she perceives as the evil.

However, the final scenes reveal a twist in the narrative. Eva’s mind is flooded with visions of a man claiming to be a survivor of the shipwreck, who was stealing their supplies out of anger and a desire for revenge. This man, who had lost his brother and claimed to be innocent, could be the real threat all along. He may have manipulated the fishermen, exploiting their guilt and superstitions, or perhaps genuinely was the creature they feared—the draugur. The ambiguity leaves open the possibility that the supernatural elements were merely manifestations of their collective guilt and descent into madness, rather than an actual undead creature. Conversely, it could be that the man was truly a revenant, trapped in a liminal state between life and death, which ultimately led to the tragedy.

In the end, the film refuses to provide a clear resolution, instead suggesting that the line between supernatural horror and human deception is blurred. The true nature of the threat remains uncertain, leaving viewers to question whether the draugur was real or simply a psychological manifestation born from grief, guilt, and the brutal environment in which these men were trapped. This unresolved ending invites viewers to reflect on the nature of horror—whether it stems from actual supernatural forces or from the dark depths of human consciousness.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:03