It's a rare and special thing, the Irish horror film.
Despite giving the world Halloween and Dracula, Irish cinematic horror output is sparse and rarely gets much attention. But there are gems to be found.
Below, find some examples of Irish horror cinema deserving of your time...
GRABBERS (2012)
A remote Irish island is under siege from bloodsucking tentacled aliens. When Gardaí Ciarán (Richard Coyle with a solid Irish accent) and Lisa (Ruth Bradley) find out that being drunk helps you survive an attack from these monsters, they decide the best chance of survival until they can contact the mainland is to have a lock in for the residents in the local pub.
This film could have gone so wrong and given us 90 minutes of drunken paddywhackery cliches but the script avoids those pits and the cast sell it. Like Shaun of the Dead and Tremors, it's an excellent balance between comedy and horror.
Available on Apple TV, Google Play and Rakuten TV
CITADEL (2012)
Despite being filmed in Glasgow with a British cast, we're claiming this one as Irish, because it’s very good and also because it’s written and directed by Ciarán Foy (Irish) and produced by Blinder Films (Irish).
After losing his pregnant girlfriend to a vicious attack by a gang of hooded teens, Tommy develops agoraphobia and holds up in his tower block apartment with his new-born daughter. As threats from the gang continue it becomes clear that this isn’t your basic mid noughties "hoody horror" and there’s something inhuman, almost biblical at play.
A dark, disturbing and genuinely scary little film that feels reminiscent of David Cronenberg’s The Brood or Roman Polanski’s Repulsion.
Available on Apple TV, Google Play and Rakuten TV.
ISOLATION (2005)
Before she was an Oscar nominated actor, Ruth Negga was in a nasty little Irish horror film about calves with fangs, seriously. A failing farm becomes a site of bio-genetic experimentation in an attempt to the make cattle grow faster. The experiments result in aggressive cows, calves being born pregnant with extremely deformed foetuses all intent of infecting others with whatever they have. Despite the OTT concept, the cast and script play it deadly seriously which gives this weird story a chilling grounded tone.
A gross and gooey reaction to BSE and GMO, it's John Carpenter’s The Thing on a farm. Director Billy O’Brien went onto make the excellent I Am Not a Serial Killer and cinematographer, Robbie Ryan shot awards magnets The Favourite and Marriage Story.
Not currently available on any streaming services.
THE HOLE IN THE GROUND (2019)
Sarah (Seaná Kerslake) and her young son Chris (James Quinn Markey) move to the countryside, renting a large house at the edge of a dense forest. One day she discovers that the forest is home to a large sinkhole. When Chris goes missing one night before briefly appearing again she can't help but think his disturbing change in personality is somehow related to the sinkhole.
A twist on the creepy kid horror film that borrows from Irish folklore, primarily the mythology of changelings. Stylishly shot with an excellent turn from the reliably excellent Kerslake, this is one of those horror films that’ll stick with you. Slow burning and subtle with sudden shocking moments of horror, it’ll be interesting to see what director Lee Cronin does with his next and project, Evil Dead Rise, which will presumably have a very different tone.
Available on Apple TV, Google Play, Rakutem TV and Sky Store
THE DEVIL'S DOORWAY (2018)
Director Aislinn Clarke successfully ventured into one of the most divisive and tricky of horror sub genres, found footage.
In 1960 two Irish priests are sent by the Vatican to investigate and alleged miracle at Magdalene laundry. The anonymous claim that a statue of the Virgin Mary is bleeding from the eyes is discredited by the Mother Superior who makes it clear she doesn't want priests snooping around with cameras. They stick it out and discover that’s a lot more going on that bloody teared statues. We enter a world of satanic cults and demonic possession but it’s discoveries that lay parallel to the real history of these institutions that disturb most. Effective, but not for everyone.
Available on Apple TV.
THE BOYS FROM COUNTY HELL (2020)
And we'll finish off with something completely different.
Six Mill Hill is a town that has one claim to fame, Bram Stoker stayed there once. When the build of a new highway disturbs the grave of "real Dracula", Abhartach, a vampire awakens and begins reeking bloody havoc on the village. Eugene (Jack Rowan) and William (Fra Free), a pair of feckless wasters set to put things right. Lots of scares, decapitations and laughs are had but the film never loses the humanity of its characters and it has some well-earned touching moments. Great fun.
Available on Apple TV, Google Play, Sky Store and Rakuten TV
