‘Let The Wrong One In’ Review

Stars: Karl Rice, Eoin Duffy, Hilda Fay, David Pearse, Mary Murray, Anthony Head | Written and Directed by Conor McMahon

You might think that you don’t know a lot of Irish horror movies but you either didn’t realise certain films were made in Ireland or by Irish filmmakers or you’re not watching the right films! Whether it be the comedy from 2005 Boy Eats Girl or folky Hammer movie Wake Wood or the terrifying Corin Hardy movie The Hallow or the ridiculously fun Grabbers. There’s plenty for horror fans to enjoy and the pun in the title will tell you that Let The Wrong One In is the latest horror comedy coming from Ireland.

It tells the story of Matt, a teenager who suddenly discovers his older brother, Deco, has become a vampire. He then has to decide whether to help his brother or the very, very, opposite and kill him. This might seem like an obvious decision but when Deco can’t control his vampire urges, Matt’s life is at stake too.

There’s no doubt, after about twenty minutes or so, what the best part of the movie is. And that’s the gore. That’s not to say that Let The Wrong One In doesn’t have plenty going for it, it’s just that the gore is so in-your-face and brilliant. There’s always going to be an Evil Dead comparison when the blood sprays across the screen in a brutal but comedic where and I’m sure there’s some influence from that horror classic.

The effects are near perfect when it comes to blood and gore too. There is some use of CGI and plenty of practical effects. Both are great. The make-up effects and practical side of things are what many horror fans will love though. Seeing characters stabbed and blood spurt comically from their bodies and at other characters will always be stupidly fun.

Second only to the gore is the casting of Anthony Head as a kind of vampire slayer. Yes, you read that right. It could be very cheesy and not work at all with the wrong script. But thankfully it’s near perfect and Head is fantastic in the role as he always is in everything (this is the second movie and performance from him this year that I’ve loved).

The cast are great throughout and all the jokes hit right. I laughed a lot.

There’s a sense, even with comedy movies, that many people don’t like using the word fun to praise a movie. But sometimes that is the exact word that needs to be used and it is high praise. Let The Wrong One In is an incredible amount of fun. Not only is it influenced by the aforementioned Evil Dead but there are nods to classic British comedy horror here from the seventies right up to Shaun of the Dead. As well as the obvious Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Let The Wrong One In could soon be hailed as a cult classic and watched by horror fans again. Whether with a group of friends and some drinks or on your own, it will constantly make you laugh out loud. This is Young Offenders but with blood, gore and vampires. And if that sounds great to you, then you’d be absolutely correct!

**** 4/5

Let The Wrong One In is out now from Dark Sky Films.