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:

Birth | Small Town | Alien | Baby | Children

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
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)
Chris Kievman	....	electrician
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 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)
• Europa Vision (1995) (Finland) (VHS)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1997) (Greece) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2001) (Finland) (TV)
• Pioneer (1997) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• 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)

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:

Australia:M | Germany:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | UK:15 (video premiere) | USA:R (certificate #33781) | Singapore:PG | 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)

Filming Locations:

Inverness, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [John Carpenter]man at pay phone

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)

A Pointless Remake.

If you haven't seen the original 1960 film, or read Whyndham's 'The Midwhich Cuckoos', then you might possibly like Carpenter's remake. It has degrees of suspense, and passable acting (perhaps most surprisingly by Christopher Reeve in his last performance prior to his paralysis), but these qualities are inconsistent throughout the film and it frequently falls flat.

If you've seen the original film then avoid this one, especially if you have read Whyndam's novel too, you will only come away from the experience with a sense of disappointment and feel cheated of the time you invested in watching it. This film lacks many things that the original had - great and consistent acting, tension, and suspense to name but three.

There seems to have been a conscious effort to add gore and violence, and that decision is perhaps the main reason this film fails so miserably compared to the original. The gratuitously graphic nature of the violence directly detracts from the suspense and tension so evident in the original. Whereas in another carpenter remake 'The Thing' the effects and violence enhanced the sense of dread, here they are responsible for destroying it.

There are other reasons that this film is quite dire, one of them being the narrative compromises made to attempt a recreation of the visual style of the original film e.g. the children all wear matching clothes which, in the original, was logical since in England children do indeed wear school uniforms. However Carpenter's US town sees the children uniformly garbed with no reason, other than to draw attention to their uniformity in a massively clumsy and illogical visual device.

Take my advice, watch the original and avoid this. It's one strictly for carpenter fanatics, not people who are simply fans of his work.