VOD of the Dead - DAMAGED (2024)
Straight-to-video and VOD are staples of the horror genre. Ever since the VHS and home video explosion in the ‘80s, the horror genre has benefited greatly from having a simple, cost-effective way to distribute films directly to consumers while bypassing the theatrical run. Nowadays, it is far more common to see studio films skip theaters and go straight to streaming, but there was a time when that wasn’t so commonplace. Before the streaming era, straight-to-video releases were the middle class of film distribution. They had some studio backing, albeit fractions of what theatrical releases would get, and had a distribution pipeline that guaranteed placement on a video store's shelf and the late-night programs shown on cable and premium channels. These films were often okay at best but occasionally would deliver gems of the genre that would become cult classics. Hell, half of the boutique label releases we get each year are films that were DTV (direct-to-video), so perhaps time provides a better lens of interpretation. Over time, DTV became VOD now that physical media isn’t as ubiquitous as it once was, but that hasn’t stopped these films from continuing to be churned out. One such film is Damaged, from Lionsgate starring Samuel L. Jackson. Is this VOD thriller a diamond in the streaming rough, or is this more of a skidmark on the streaming superhighway?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Dan Lawson, a Chicago detective, travels to Scotland to link up with Scottish Det. Boyd, following the resurgence of a serial killer whose crimes match an unsolved case that he looked into 5 years previous in Chicago.
HOW IS IT?
There was a time in the '90s when all types of thrillers proliferated across televisions and screens. Some of these thrillers were well-produced, studio-ran, and star-studded, while others were merely cheap carbon copies aimed at a demographic that stays up late into the wee hours of the evening / early morning. This latter group of films was known for being more risque and having a stronger emphasis on the more exploitative elements than the mystery/noir ones, and make for great entertainment with a group of friends, a bunch of alcohol, and some greasy pizza. What made these films interesting, even today is the lack of polish in their delivery. Characters that are caricatures of archetypes you’re likely to see in a thriller and a copious amount of sex and occasional unhinged violence. These films lived and died by their ability to be quickly made and easily exported to your nearest video store or TV channel, offering something a bit trashier. “Damaged” has a lot in common with these thrillers, except it misses the most crucial aspect of what makes them work, being audaciously entertaining.
The lot of “Damaged” is so basic you’d be forgiven if you think you’ve seen this story at least a dozen times before. The lackadaisical aspects permeate almost every aspect of it, which is surprising since there are some real powerhouse talents on screen, well, for the most part. Leading the cast is Samuel L. Jackson, a name that should need no introduction, and none of the charisma or character we have seen in his other performances is here. His Detective Lawson is supposed to be a grief-stricken alcoholic, but he comes across as more of the latter than the former. It’s so egregious that you might wonder why in the hell this guy still has a job when he shows up to work drunk and unable to carry even a basic conversation. Then, you have supporting cast members like Vincent Cassel and John Hannah who give slightly more intriguing performances, but still feel like they are phoning it in. It isn’t as if the material is calling for high-caliber performances, so it may not be the actors' fault as much as the fault of the writing. Speaking of which, for a film such as this it was shocking to see three different writers attached to it. For a story so cliche and uncomplicated it is baffling to think that three different people had their hands on this story and this is still the final product.
One of the reasons for such a harsh review of this film is that it has elements that could’ve been intriguing, even if they aren’t wholly original. Even a mediocre procedural thriller can be elevated by simply making it more violent or grisly, and at times “Damaged” does deliver the goods with some gory scenes and decent chases. These moments don’t last long though, and are often interrupted by expositional moments that serve to fill time by bloating an extremely basic story and premise to its maximum volume. This brings us to the end reveal, and what a reveal it is. The culmination of the story comes to a head with a twist so illogical and unreasonable that it is laughable. Part of the reason why it doesn’t work has a lot to do with the performances and character portrayals that precede it. Despite a slew of red herrings, all of which are pretty easy to identify, the twist feels so out of place and unnecessary that one wonders if this was supposed to be the Hail Mary to save the whole picture. In reality, it’s an ending that is more infuriating than invigorating and it leaves an extra sour taste in the viewers' mouth due to how shoehorned and ill-placed it is. There is a mediocre movie buried somewhere in “Damaged”, but even then there isn’t enough that is interesting or entertaining about it to recommend.
LAST RITES
“Damaged” has all the trappings of a trashy thriller while missing the most important ingredient, being entertaining. A star-studded cast that is phoning in performances, and a script that has wildly simple characters are just some of the reasons that “Damaged” is an apt title for this film.
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
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Where can you watch it?
DAMAGED is available NOW on VOD and select streaming services.
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