best irish films to watch this autumn
Autumn, the perfect time to cuddle up with coffee to watch the leaves turn a golden brown. Perhaps it is more of a shocking fright you are looking for? Or maybe you want a taste of the great Irish films? Well, look no further, because here is Starfish’s list of some of the best Irish films for you to watch this autumn.
Herself (2020)
Available on Prime
From presidential debates that play on our screens, a key factor in their discussion comes down to the housing crisis. Herself (2020) directed by Phyllida Lloyd comes her magnum opus on the struggles of the housing crisis. The film centers around a mother escaping from an abusive relationship with her children, shedding a light on Ireland’s “laissez-faire” mindset and the devastating consequences it can have on a multitude of victims from all walks of life. It paints the horrors in which many people currently face including the very real reasons as to why people end up searching for housing in the first place. While troubling and truly a sorrowful film, it accurately depicts one of Ireland’s biggest horrors and the human toll the housing crisis takes on Irish citizens.
Caveat (2021)
Available on Netflix
For those looking for a psychologically horrifying thrill, this is the place to be. The use of limited confined spaces with camera work that traps you with the cast in a claustrophobic horror. Damien McCarthy's work plays into the horrors of claustrophobia and confusion. Following a man being paid to look after a woman in a home whose trauma is not just bound to herself but the very place they stand. Its cinematography outside of the island itself lures you into a false sense of security, only to rip your comforts away when you least expect it. It will lead you asking questions and looking for reasoning in an ever confined space. The film’s success in disorientating viewers, brilliantly invites repeated rewatches, which only further reaffirms the plot’s twisting narrative: “not everything is as it seems”.
The Lodgers (2017)
Available to rent on Apple TV
For those looking for a gothic horror drenched in generational trauma this may be the calling for you. Two siblings live in a larger crumbling manner in rural Ireland and must abide by three rules set in the house. Director Brian O’Malley creates an environment of doubt of not only the rules of society but a reflection on conservatism within the Irish mindset. It’s a question of change or security. It creates conversations on what it means to doubt understanding and beliefs, while draped in gorgeous gothic pre 1920s vibes. Its use of deep navies and blues in its cinematography paints an ever haunting picture of elevating these carefully crafted environments to scare and unsettle.
Fréwaka (2024)
Available on Shudder
Fréwaka is one of the biggest hits of the year for Irish language films, as well as one of the first Irish horror movies to use the Irish language to such excellent effect. Fréwaka is the story of an Irish-speaking carer looking after a woman in a Gaeltacht area, where things aren’t as they seem. Director Aislinn Clarke creates a blend of religious trauma and folk-horror into a truly Irish experience. It helps define the Irish language as a worthy device in successfully conveying the horror genre. The spoken Irish language plays a large part in not only the plot but the cultural significance of this film’s existence. This film asks and questions what it means to speak the Irish language while providing striking social commentary on the current day culture of Ireland and her voice. It is a must watch for those who want an authentic Irish horror.
Written by Niall Carey (@niall.030)
Edited by Alex Kelleher (@alex_kelleher_)
