Don’t get me wrong. I love the Leprechaun movies and Leprechaun in the Hood holds a special place in my heart. I have even recently reviewed Leprechaun Returns (2018). I just want to make that clear.

However the Leprechaun movies aren’t actual Irish productions. There are some really great movies coming out of Ireland though and I made this quick list to share them with you. I haven’t seen every one of these, but I’ll add my 2 cents where applicable. Where to watch these has been updated for 2022. 

Rawhead Rex (1986)

[SPOILER WARNING! This trailer spoils the hell out of this movie, so watch at your own risk.] Available on AMC+ and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

I saw this on VHS as a kid and I was actually scared that Rawhead Rex would jump through my window at night. As an adult I still really appreciate this movie. While I’m in no way scared by it now, it still holds up to repeated viewing. It’s just fun.

Isolation (2005)

Available on Tubi, Crackle and IMDbTV (As of the date of this post)

I slept on this movie hard. A friend gave me the DVD of this movie a few years ago and it didn’t look so interesting from the cover and vague synopsis, so I didn’t watch it until a year later. I really respect that they didn’t spoil anything on the DVD cover. If you like the type of body horror and practical gore f/x in Alien and John Carpenter’s The Thing, you might dig this one.

Shrooms (2007)

Available on Tubi, Plex and Shudder (At the time of this posting)

“A group of friends are stalked and murdered whilst looking for psilocybin mushrooms in the Irish woods.” I happen to find this one when I was preparing this post, so I have not watched it yet, but the trailer looks interesting. I most likely will check this out soon.

The Daisy Chain (2008)

Available on Tubi and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

“A grieving couple move to a remote Irish village in the wake of their baby daughter’s death. They soon take in an orphaned autistic girl, only to become involved in a series of strange occurrences.” This is another one that I just found out about today. The trailer looks interesting, especially since they are drawing from Irish fairy folklore.

Wake Wood (2009)

Available on Tubi, Plex, IMDb TV and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

 

“The parents of a girl who was killed by a savage dog are granted the opportunity to spend three days with their deceased daughter.” This stars Little Finger from Game of Thrones and is like an Irish Pet Semetary. It had mysterious towns people, a creepy child and some great practical gore f/x. I liked it.

Grabbers (2012)

Available on AMC+, IFC Films Unlimited and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

“When an island off the coast of Ireland is invaded by bloodsucking aliens, the heroes discover that getting drunk is the only way to survive.” If I was in a pitch meeting I would describe this as Tremors like with a Sean of the Dead comedic sensibilities. I didn’t love this movie, but I would not say it was bad either. It was just aaight.

Citadel (2012)

Available on Tubi, CONtv, CineFest and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

“An agoraphobic father teams up with a renegade priest to save his daughter from the clutches of a gang of twisted feral children who committed an act of violence against his family years earlier.” Need I say more?

Stitches (2012)

Available on Plex, AMC+ and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

The trailer does not do this movie justice. It does a great job of not spoiling the kill scenes which are also done mostly with practical f/x. There are some bits of CG, but used sparingly. If you want to hear more about it, I did a video review as part of my 17 movie Clown-a-thon Series.

 

Byzantium (2012)

Available on Showtime and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

“Residents of a coastal town learn, with deathly consequences, the secret shared by the two mysterious women who have sought shelter at a local resort.” Looks and sounds good. This is definately on my watchlist.

Let Us Prey (2014)

Available on Tubi, IMDb TV, AMC+ and Amazon Prime Video (At the time of this post)

“Held in a remote police station, a mysterious stranger takes over the minds and souls of everyone inside.” This was another one that I remember being just aaight. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t super memorable, but that is just my opinion. If the trailer looks good to ya, check it out.

The Canal (2014)

Available on Tubi, Plex, AMC+ and Amazon Prime (At the time of this post)

“A depressed and stressed film archivist finds his sanity crumbling after he is given an old 16mm film reel with footage from a horrific murder that occurred in the early 1900’s.” This was creepy and atmospheric but not exactly scary and that is alright as long as you know that going in you won’t be let down.

From the Dark (2014)

Available on IMDb TV (At the time of this post)

“A couple on a trip through the Irish countryside find themselves hunted by a creature who only attacks at night.” This movie is like a love letter to the classic vampire. When I say classic vampire I don’t mean 1980’s. I don’t mean 1960’s. I don’t even mean 1940’s Bela Lugosi. I mean the OG of vampires. If you are a horror fan you may already know who that is.

The Hallow (2015)

Available on IFC Films Umlimited, AMC+ and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

“A family who moved into a remote mill house in Ireland finds themselves in a fight for survival with demonic creatures living in the woods.” This was a fun watch. I didn’t see the creatures as “demonic” though. I felt like they were more like fairies. Not the pretty Disney fairies; the evil fairies of Celtic mythology.

A Dark Song (2016)

Available on Plex, IFC Films Unlimited, AMC+ and Amazon Prime Video (at the time of this post)

“A determined young woman and a damaged occultist risk their lives and souls to perform a dangerous ritual that will grant them what they want.” This movie is a super slow burn. It builds on itself and has an out there ending. The wildest thing about this movie is that the ritual is real ancient ritual.

Nails (2017)

Available on Tubi, Plex, IMDb TV and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

“Recovering after a terrible accident, Dana struggles to regain her life and family when she encounters a malevolent ghost in her hospital room.” This looks semi interesting. I wonder how they will fill the time seeing as this takes place mostly in one room. I’m still probably going to give it a shot.

The Lodgers (2017)

Available on Tubi, Plex, IMDb TV and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

“1920, rural Ireland. Anglo Irish twins Rachel and Edward share a strange existence in their crumbling family estate. Each night, the property becomes the domain of a sinister presence.” This movie is heavier on the mystery thriller than horror. If you like quiet atmospheric horror in creepy old country manors this is a pretty solid movie.

The Cured (2017)

Available on Hulu, AMC+, IFC Films Umlimited and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

“A disease that turns people into zombies has been cured. The once-infected zombies are discriminated against by society and their own families, which causes social issues to arise. This leads to militant government interference.” Looks Cool, but right now it’s $11.99 to rent on Amazon. I am hoping it will be available on Shutter or Netflix soon.

Don’t Leave Home (2018)

Available on Shutter and Amazon Prime Video (At the time of this posting)

“An American artist’s obsession with a disturbing urban legend leads her to an investigation of the story’s origins at the crumbling estate of a reclusive painter in Ireland.” This looks pretty interesting. I’m probably going to watch this when I finish writing this. It looks like a good Sunday night thriller.

The Devil’s Doorway (2018)

Available on AMC+, IFC Films Unlimited and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

“In the fall of 1960, Father Thomas Riley and Father John Thornton were sent by the Vatican to investigate a miraculous event in an Irish home for ‘fallen women’, only to uncover something much more horrific.” This wasn’t bad. I really liked the super 8 footage look. I would like to rewatch this in surround sound since the first time I watched it was on my laptop.

The Hole in the Ground (2019)

Available on Showtime and Amazon Prime Video (As of the date of this post)

“A young mother living in the Irish countryside with her son suspects his increasingly disturbing behavior is linked to a mysterious sinkhole in the forest, and fears he may not be her son at all.”

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