Unwelcome

Theres something endearing about this odd film.

Initially the outdoors shots look eerie and as if they are filmed in a studio.

The central couple are not entirely convincing. Its not clear why she would be with such a socially inept and irritating loser. And he is really irritating.

The Irish stereotypes come thick and fast as we are introduced to a strange combination of characters.

Always nice to see Niamh Cusack.

The builder family are just too weird-but-played-straight to take seriously. Theres just no way you would have them in your house, having met them.

There are various other totally unbelievable plot points .

The first time I saw the red caps I laughed out loud. Noone else did (though there were only 4 people in the cinema). I laughed at various other points as it all became more unbelievable.

The red caps are actually quite likeable little chaps that seem to have a sense of humour as they kill or are killed.

The whole thing feels a little 80's straight to video, but thats not a totally bad thing. Its got a quirky likeable quality.

It goes off the rails in the last 20 minutes, leaving one to question what they have just watched at the end.

It's not the straightforward horror I thought it was going to be or the one it started off as. Maybe a lot of other people took issue with that. It quickly becomes a beautiful-looking but slightly creepy fairy tale, before becoming a silly, violent black comedy in the end. I loved it all. It is sort of a dark cottagecore fantasy tale and I know that aesthetic is got right now.

The acting and cinematography are great (especially Hannah John-Kamen, who straight kills it), the special effects not so much. Still a very pleasant surprise. I did not think I would be as throughly entertained as I was.

This isn't a film with wide appeal, but it's worth a watch by those who love the horror genre as a whole. The plot is simplistic, wacky, a bit trashy, often forced, sometimes non-existent but entertaining. It doesn't take itself seriously at all. Even in its darkest moments, it's surreal and nonsensical.

This isn't a film for new horror fans who have come to the genre on the back of social commentary works like Get Out. Nor is it a film for those who prefer the current trend of slow-burn, artistic films like Hereditary and Midsommar.

If you enjoy films like Grabbers and Doghouse, you should be able to appreciate the fast-paced nonsense that is Unwelcome.

For about half an hour I was very worried that this film was taking itself way too seriously given the premise. The concept is simply too outlandish for that. Thankfully it surrendered to itself, and a slightly cagey first act gives way to a hugely entertaining final hour.

I won't delve too much into the story as I think going in knowing as little as possible will very much elevate the experience. What I will say is that it is a very predictable but very enjoyable story. When they let rip and ramp up the humour and the action it's a blast.

The performances are all pretty solid. Nothing stand out but they work.

In terms of horror, it isn't particularly scary. I do think that there was potential to make this much scarier and give it more impact, so there is definitely a missed opportunity there.

Compared to other folk horror films I've seen lately such as The Feast or The Witch, this one is much more tongue in cheek. It has more of a Barbarian feel to it and is all the better for it. Sure it is a little laboured at times and easily 10 minutes too long, but it is a really fun watch.

Fantasy horror is easily hit or miss. This dark fairytale genre works with this if you take it as it is and don't expect more.

Things I really appreciated is just how well the film was shot, the practical effects and the beautiful scenery. It has all the gloss of a well produced film and the acting wasn't bad. The creature designs were interesting, thought out and very practical so the realistic aspect was nice. The scenery shots were beautiful and since it's so well produced, it was captivating. The story wasn't bad as it held my attention, but would have benefited from more discussion about the creatures and their lore.

I found it surprisingly good and I don't have a problem recommending this creature feature for horror fans that like creature, mythological, folklore or fantasy horror. It isn't perfect, but it is worth a watch if you don't take it too seriously.