Laughs and Scares Aren’t Unwelcome (2023) In This Irish Film
Title: Unwelcome
First Non-Festival Release: January 27, 2023 (Digital/Streaming Platforms)
Director: Jon Wright
Writer: Mark Stay, John Wright
Runtime: 104 Minutes
Starring: Hannah John-Kamen, Douglas Booth, Colm Meaney
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
When a terrifying home invasion pressures Maya (Hannah John-Kamen) and Jamie (Douglas Booth) to leave the city for good, opportunity arises in Jamie’s late aunt who has gifted the couple her rural countryside estate in Ireland. Ecstatic at the timing, the duo pounce to start a new life for themselves and their unborn child. Once there, however, they find themselves at odd with small town superstitions, rowdy locals, and mischievous goblins.
Delightfully campy British creature feature meets home invasion thriller Unwelcome is a welcome dash of whimsy for 2023.
What makes Unwelcome stand out from the hordes of folkloric horror films released every week is its commitment to entertaining both in a suspenseful and comedic way. The lore behind the redcaps is fun and unique, especially for those who are not well acquainted with the Irish folklore. Devilish little creatures with a penchant for violence, their inclusion in the narrative adds an extra element of fright to the home invasion aspect of the film, another obstacle for the couple to overcome, while adding plenty of laughs for their wild behavior. They carry a personality that is playful, energetic, and imaginative while merging it with their bloodlust. Daily rituals, mysterious tunnels, and the uncanny ability to sneak in anywhere to get what’s theirs makes these sneaky little creatures so delightful.
It's an impressive feat to make a home invasion horror film subversive yet also lighthearted but Unwelcome manages to do that and so much more. The constant use of the fish out of water trope for the couple helps make their stay in the quaint Irish countryside engaging. Striking a balance, the film keeps its tone consistent while prioritizing the entertainment of its wacky story. For every sneering interaction between the Whelan kids and the couple, there is a level of darkness added to the depths the redcaps will go to take what they want for trades.
Despite the unexpected level of camp, Unwelcome manages to explore the lingering trauma associated with recovering from an act of violence. Maya and Jamie’s desire to leave London for a bit of peace in the countryside is a reasonable request after facing the trauma that they experienced. The dark undertones of that night in London seep in the way they interact with each other and the locals. They don't quite know how to interact with others and their past experiences make them nervous and hesitant to get to know anyone too deeply. Their willingness to put up with the Whelan family and their antics makes for some tense moments. Maya and Jamie both gear up for the challenge in different ways.
There is no one right reaction to traumatic events, and Maya and Jamie epitomize this truth. Maya’s focus is solely on her child. While the events still have a hold on her in some ways, she doesn't place blame on herself or Jamie as much as Jamie does. This allows her to move on in a healthy way while still struggling to adjust to her new life. It’s true that both take the incident hard, it clearly takes a toll on Jamie in more visible ways.
Jamie is obsessed with being this version of a strong alpha male to the point where he disregards social cues that point to alternative ways of handling conflict. His desire to appear capable and intimidating often backfires when he truly is not capable of that. Consequently, this irritates Maya because she is not asking for him to change nor does she feel it is necessary for them to appear as such. It’s clear he hasn’t done the work to “be strong” as he breaks down when confronted later on in the film, which makes for some intriguing commentary on the façade masculinity can present itself when scrutinized.
High production values allow for this creature feature to go balls-to-the-wall in carrying out its zany premise. In what could have been the downfall for any film of this nature, Unwelcome supplies strong creature feature mayhem by creating realistic goblin baddies for the hapless couple to face off against. Well designed and seamlessly integrated into the film, they really become the films strongest selling point once they get the screen time they deserve. From there, they go all out in ways to attack, maim, and kill their prey, making for some intelligent antagonists to go up against.
Unwelcome isn't going to win any awards but it's a solid creature feature that should satisfy any genre lovers’ need for something slightly different. Its ability to not take itself too seriously allows the horror and comedy to blend nicely. Memorable characters, strong special effects, and engaging fight sequences bring out the spark in this Irish offering. For those looking for an breezy watch that won't require too much from them will find Unwelcome to be a pleasant and entertaining romp in the forest.
Overall Score? 6/10
