Unwelcome shows off its mean streak during its cold open. It scales things back considerably, but it never lets the audience get too comfortable. Maya (Hannah John-Kamen, Ant-Man and the Wasp) and Jaime (Douglas Booth, The Dirt) have left London for rural Ireland. They are excited to start their new lives, but the house they have inherited comes with a warning. Mysterious beings known as Redcaps live in the gnarled wood in the garden. They will help those who ask, but it comes with a heavy price.
Many Irish folklore stories are about deals involving kids or unborn children, so it will not take long to realize where the plot is headed. Writers Mark Stay and John Wright (who also served as director) take things in unexpected directions, however. Unwelcome is very much a case of the journey meaning more than the destination. Early on, the film teases that it will be like other creature features but it never settles in to the expected story of the evil creatures going on a bloody rampage before they are stopped by the hero.
Instead, Unwelcome dispenses almost entirely with a high body count and builds its world and characters. Jaime has a subtle story arc that starts from the opening moments and has a clever conclusion. The couple’s meeting with a local family sets up a wild confrontation. For their part, the Redcaps are a constant ominous presence in the background that are never the focus of the story.
This makes Unwelcome more engaging than other horror movies. It is easy to care for Maya and Jaime with the first few minutes putting the audience firmly on their side. The Whelans (led by Colm Meaney in a fantastic performance) are a constant source of tension. They are responsible for some of the movie’s most uncomfortable moments and are effective antagonists.
The first hour plus builds to a chaotic third act that is filled with literal blood and guts. It is well paced, filled with twists and turns, and is the most exciting part of Unwelcome. It is a refreshing change of pace from similar movies and delivers on everything that has been said about the mythical Redcaps. It is also during the climatic battle that the creature effects really stand out.
The Redcaps are a throwback to 1980s horror movies. There is a silly quality to them, but they are also incredibly vicious. Think Critters with a lot less comedy and much more gore. This actually fits the tone of the rest of the story. Moments of genuine humor mix with discomforting scenes. There are a surprising amount of inconsistencies, but Unwelcome is one of the better horror movies of the early year.
Unwelcome comes to theaters March 8 and digital March 14
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