Permanent Damage – Movie Review | Fantasia (4/5)

PERMANENT DAMAGE is a crime thriller with the most deliciously quirky characters. It has a wild, yet not too foreign, storyline. And yes, having just watched this for our Fantasia 2026 coverage, it feels like a wild statement, but this world is oddly familiar. Read our full Permanent Damage movie review here!

PERMANENT DAMAGE just had its world premiere at Fantasia 2026, which is a great start for this genre hybrid. The core premise is a pretty straightforward crime thriller storyline, but the characters make it something very unique.

Each new character has some strange quirk that makes them interesting. Part of the cast is familiar, while many of the other actors in the cast won’t be familiar to most viewers. And yes, this is yet another reason why the movie works so well. This is not a movie you will forget right away.

Continue reading our Permanent Damage movie review below.

Donnie is a good boy

If there’s one thing you’ll learn early on, it’s that “Donnie” isn’t really named Donnie. However, he is a good boy and will allow the older, confused lady (Clare Coulter) to call him whatever makes her happy. After all, the opening scene shows him escaping prison, and she helps him get out of the first sticky situation he encounters.

This opening sequence alone will show you what to expect: Quirky characters who are all just trying to get by.

And yes, you will learn why “Donnie” ended up in prison in the first place. Having escaped being locked up, he ends up in a neighborhood that is both strangely familiar and very unique.

Also, you’ll learn right away that Donnie really is a good boy. His real name is Tommy Gods (Calem MacDonald), and the crumbling apartment complex he now finds himself in is full of misfits. For someone like Tommy Gods, this means he fits in perfectly.

Stephen Dorff as a slumlord

As the person “responsible” for the homes in the complex, we see LL. He dreams of getting rich and leaving this place. Or, even better, getting rich and being in charge of everyone. As the slumlord, LL, we have Stephen Dorff (True Detective S3), who does a great job. The man knows how to play the bad guy!

Tommy also wants to move on, so he can get away from the prison he recently escaped. However, he has a huge heart and wants to help the confused older lady, Mrs. Whynot. As a result, he ends up working for LL, but he also ends up finding love with Joe (Olivia Scriven). She is the niece of LL, so it’s not popular with the boss.

Overall, it’s difficult to simply describe the plot of Permanent Damage, as it really doesn’t do the movie justice. You’ll get to meet the most amazing characters as the story evolves. Personally, I found myself now wanting a movie featuring the “Generous” (Quancetia Hamilton), who is bound to become a fan favorite.

Permanent Damage world premiere at Fantasia 2026

Seth A. Smith is the director of Permanent Damage, which he also co-wrote with Darcy Spindle. We also reviewed a movie by Seth A. Smith during Fantasia 2021, when he released the pandemic-inspired dystopian sci-fi movie Tin Can. And yes, we very much recommend watching that one as well.

The runtime is just 98 minutes, and it definitely is not too long when I want to keep watching. Just to see what happens in the lives of these characters. Also, look out for Stephen McHattie‘s cameo in this movie. Don’t worry, it’s not like you can miss it.

For me, Seth A. Smith has a breathtaking talent for crafting characters that get under your skin. Whether they have most of the dialogue or just a few lines, you can expect that they will win you over. The characters of Permanent Damage are no exception.

Permanent Damage just had its World Premiere at Fantasia 2026. We’ll update this review with wider release details as soon as we have them.

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