Unwelcome review by Bobby Blakey
Well Go USA is known for bringing a wide variety of international films to the US most notably Asian martial arts cinema. They have also been known to bring some horror flicks to the masses like their latest Unwelcome starring Hannah John-Kamen, Douglas Booth, Colm Meaney, and Kristian Nairn from director Jon Wright. Could this latest horror film bring something unique to the genre or will it fail to be an unwelcome experience?
Unwelcome follows a couple who escapes their urban nightmare to the tranquility of rural Ireland only to hear stories of mysterious beings who live in the gnarled, ancient wood at the foot of their new garden. As warned by their new neighbors, in Irish lore 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.
I clearly had a different vision to what this was going to be and that is both good and bad. On one side is an interesting look at dealing with culture and beliefs in legends and fairytales and on the other side is just straight of crazy people. This is one of those films that sets up things in a way that it is meant to affect the behavior of the characters later in the film during new situations, but to me didn’t really go in the way you would think they would act.
The majority of the movie we are either hearing about this legend or watching this group of people be imposing on this couple for no real reason. The issues isn’t even their inappropriate behavior and bad attitudes, but more in the couple just letting it happen. They are constantly letting people just do whatever with no real push back until later in the film when it’s kind of their fault they’ve let it go this long.
The entire film is building to reveal if the legend of the Redcaps are real or not and just needed to offer up more characters that you want to see killed so this couple can be the heroes, but in reality I didn’t really care if anyone survived after it was all said and done. I did enjoy the creatures design and effects as something different than just another haunting or slasher flick. Is it silly? Of course, but when they start doing their thing and wreaking havoc they are just fun to watch.
In the end the film isn’t bad, but more average than anything. There is a great flick here and something that they can build on given the chance, but in my opinion need to go all in if they choose to move forward.
Decide for yourself and grab your copy of Unwelcome available now on digital, Blu-ray and DVD from Well Go USA.