UNWELCOME on Shudder is a new folk horror movie. It takes place in Ireland, so we’re dealing with ancient folklore. It might be too slow-burn for some, but overall, it worked for me. Read our full Unwelcome movie review here!
UNWELCOME is a new Shudder addition. A folk horror movie that plays out in the Irish countryside. We’re dealing with “little folk” who you might know better as goblins. And they are thirsty for meat and blood.
The story begins in a very urban area, but after the opening story, you’ll understand why the young married couple is more than happy to leave.
Continue reading our full Unwelcome movie review below. Find it on Shudder from June 23, 2023.
From one nightmare to the next
In Unwelcome, we meet the young married couple, Maya and Jamie. They’re expecting their first child after having tried for quite some time to conceive.
After a brutal attack in their home (and urban apartment), they move to rural Ireland where an aunt has left them a home. However, the escape from their urban nightmare doesn’t result in the rural tranquility, they hoped for.
Instead, what they find in the Irish countryside are malevolent and murderous goblins called Redcaps. They live in the woods at the foot of their new garden. Their new neighbors warn them and try to help, but can these city folk respect the Irish mythology?
The lore goes that the Redcaps will come when called to help souls in dire need of rescue. However, there is always a dear price to pay for their aid.
The cast of Unwelcome
This new Irish folk horror movie stars Hannah John-Kamen (The Stranger, Ready Player One) and Douglas Booth (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, The Dirt) as the young married couple.
The two are very believable as a couple and you feel for them as they work through the trauma they experienced in the urban apartment. Moving to the Irish countryside, unfortunately, offers some new challenges.
Among those challenges, we find more familiar faces. They include Colm Meaney (Gangs of London), Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls), Chris Walley (Bloodlands), and Kristian Nairn (“Hodor” on Game of Thrones).
Watch Unwelcome on Shudder
Jon Wright is the director of Unwelcome which he also came up with the story for along with screenwriter Mark Stay. The two previously made the 2014 movie Robot Overlords. That one starred Ben Kingsley and Gillian Anderson, so they know how to attract big names.
Also, both movies have fairly low IMDb scores (around 4 or 5), but that seems very unfair. To me anyway. Sure, this new movie might not be for everyone. However, as a creature feature, Unwelcome definitely delivers the goods.
The pacing and almost fairytale-like setting may not be for everyone. Still, you should give it a shot when it’s a Shudder. It does get quite brutal toward the end!
Unwelcome will debut on Shudder on June 23, 2023.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Shudder.
Details
Director: Jon Wright
Writer: Mark Stay
Cast: Hannah John-Kamen, Douglas Booth, Colm Meaney, Jamie-Lee O’ Donnell, Chris Walley, Kristian Nairn
Plot
In Unwelcome, married couple Maya and Jamie escape their urban nightmare to the tranquility of rural Ireland only to discover malevolent and murderous goblins lurking in the gnarled, ancient wood at the foot of their new garden. As warned by their new neighbors, in Irish mythology, the Redcaps will come when called to help souls in dire need of rescue, but it’s crucial to remember that there is always a dear price to pay for their aid.
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