The Ghost

As an American with Irish ancestry (my grandmother was from Mayo), I've always been drawn to anything that connects me to that side of my roots. Watching An Taibhse (The Ghost) felt like more than just watching a film it felt like stepping into a part of my heritage.

The story follows a father and daughter who move into a big house during a winter. You can feel the sense of dread building slowly. It's the first Irish-language horror film I've seen, and hearing the language used like that especially in such a haunting poetic way made the whole experience feel even more authentic.

The acting is brilliant, especially from the leads, and the cinematography is just stunning. You can almost feel the cold coming off the screen. It's quiet, eerie, and beautifully shot the kind of horror that creeps under your skin rather than relying on jump scares.

If I had one small criticism, it's that the middle act dragged a little bit. But honestly, the payoff in the final act made it totally worth it.

All in all, a powerful and original film. Maith thú to everyone involved (I hope my Gaelic is correct!). 9/10.

As a long time Horror fan who used to pace the aisles of X-travision for any horror I could get my hands on, An Taibhse is a breath of fresh air.

Finally!!!! A movie where the tension and jump scares feel evenly distributed and are present just enough in Act One to keep you invested, without going overkill. I really enjoyed the pace and twists throughout the film. You could argue the first part of the film is a bit slow and drawn out, but again, as someone who has seen a lot of horror, I felt they did a great job of providing setup, intrigue and also keeping me on the edge of my seat with some frights. Act 2 brings another level of urgency and fear to the plot and you can feel the ending building and building, which brings me on to act 3! What an incredible ending. The cinematography, the anxiety, the collection of shots and acting was just superb. Horror movies are often let down by their endings but An Taibhse does an excellent job of giving you a strong conclusion while also leaving you squirming as you leave the cinema.

For a production with such a low budget, it's truly amazing what they did with it. You could nit pick some set choices and other production pieces, but for me, they were a non-issue. This wasn't a Hollywood produced film and I'd argue it beats most horrors with much larger budgets.

Overall, I think anyone familiar with the horror genre will have a fun ride watching this film. The movie being in Irish was a lovely touch although outside of my school years, I wouldn't have a strong enough grasp on the language to comment on the use of the language in the film. But I thoroughly enjoyed getting to watch an Irish speaking film in an Irish cinema!!

An Taibhse is a captivating folk horror set during the harrowing end of the famine era, weaving a chilling tale that follows a daughter and father as they caretake a stately manor. The film starts as a slow burn, yet manages to maintain a grip on the viewer with an underlying sense of mystery and intrigue.

The first half of "An Taibhse" feels like a traditional horror film, replete with jump scares and familiar genre tropes. Despite this, there is a palpable sense of something more profound lurking in the subtext, which keeps the audience engaged. The typical horror elements serve as a prelude to something far more sinister.

As the story progresses into the second half, it takes a darker, more disturbing turn. The last 20 minutes are particularly shocking, delivering a complete curveball that dives into the real-life trauma and horror of the famine era, shedding light on some of the often unspoken atrocities of that time. This shift is genuinely unsettling and powerfully executed.

The film excels in its foreshadowing, subtly hinting at the twist while employing enough misdirection to keep viewers guessing. This balance between foreshadowing and surprise is masterfully handled, making the twist both inevitable and shocking.

"An Taibhse" is a highly recommended watch, especially for those interested in horror that delves deeper into historical trauma. Additionally, it is a pleasure to see another film being made in the Irish language, contributing to the richness of Ireland's cinematic and cultural heritage.

I was lucky enough to catch this John Farelly movie in my local cinema. Being a fan of both horror and the Irish language, I felt I had too. Still, going in, I didn't hold high hopes and was expecting just another paint-by-numbers haunted house film, with all the usual tropes. However, without giving too much away the horror here is so much more than that and stayed with me for days afterwards. This is something I can rarely say about any film I've watched in recent years, so it's meant as high praise.

For me the Irish language added to the authenticity of the film's setting, without being a distraction. It was great hearing Gaelic spoken in a folk horror film like this, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I understood thanks to a renewed interest in recent years.

In terms of comparisons, yes there are strong parallels with 'The Shining' regarding the isolated location, and the vulnerability of the broken family who come to take care of the otherwise empty mansion over the harsh winter months. There are also shades of 'Pan's Labyrinth' here. In hindsight, being two of my all-time favourite movies, I was always going to love An Taibhse. But this film is very much its own beast too, and the disturbing nature of its psychological horror should leave even seasoned viewers of the genre with chills.

Caught An Taibhse in cinemas in Belfast and really enjoyed it! A solid horror film with great acting and seriously impressive sound design. The sound in the tunnel scenes was especially creepy, with every echo and breath building tension. The constant wind outside the house, the creaks, and the breathing all added to the atmosphere, it really got under your skin. Only downside is there weren't more screenings, a few of my mates wanted to see it too, but it was only on at 2pm on the Sunday which was a bit frustrating. Would definitely recommend if it comes back around. Tom Kerrisk, Livvy Hill, and Anthony Murphy were all brilliant, but hands down my favourite scene was the dinner table moment between Anthony Murphy and Tom Kerrisk... properly tense!!!