Souls of the Damned (2024), written and directed by Frank Palangi—who also appears in the movie—offers a dive into dark, supernatural themes, but delivers a mixed experience.
The premise is intriguing: a group of witches harness the suffering of one man through horrific nightmares. There’s clear ambition in Palangi’s vision, with the story flirting with elements of time loops, witchcraft-induced hallucinations, and surreal horror sequences. At its core, the movie is undeniably creative, experimenting with narrative structure and psychological horror.
Unfortunately, the execution leaves much to be desired. The storyline often feels flat and inconsistent, lacking a clear flow that makes it difficult to fully invest in the characters or the tension. Acting comes across as amateurish and wooden, and the largely unfamiliar cast does little to elevate the material.
Visually, the movie carries a low-budget feel, resembling a film school project more than a polished release. That said, some elements—particularly the cover art—show genuine creativity, though they perhaps overpromise on what the film delivers.
Even so, there’s a certain charm to Palangi’s effort. The film’s experimental approach, particularly with its dreamlike and nightmarish sequences, has an almost art-house quality. While it doesn’t succeed as mainstream entertainment, horror enthusiasts looking for something unconventional might find it a curious watch.
In short, Souls of the Damned is ambitious and creatively daring, but it struggles with coherence, pacing, and performance quality. It’s a fun, if messy, experiment in psychological and supernatural horror—not a waste of time for the curious, but far from a must-see.
Jessie Hobson