Unwelcome: Release Date, Cast, And More

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Those interested in terrifying folk takes need not look further than the plethora of national Irish superstitions, whether they be the banshee's death knell, nettlesome fae, or the now-defunct (and supposedly demonically infested) Magdalene Laundries. Belfast-born director Jon Wright is certainly no stranger to these legends, choosing to explore the twisted nature of "Redcaps" — a sort of malicious, blood-thirsty goblin—in his forthcoming horror feature "Unwelcome." Below you'll find out everything we know about the film so far.

Unsurprisingly, the release date for this Celtic horror film is set for March 17, 2022 — making for a chilling choice for Saint Paddy's Day festivities. For those who, in traditional Irish fashion (at least if you're my pop-pop), would rather sit on the couch and enjoy a few ice-cold Coors Lights than make the trek to the theater, I have fantastic news for you: The film's North American distributor Well Go USA has negotiated an exclusive streaming deal with beloved horror service Shudder. Who says we Irish can't have it all?

As previously mentioned, "Unwelcome" explores the lore of "Redcaps," a murderous breed of goblin that gets its name from the fact that they are known for soaking their caps in the blood of their victims. However, these freaky little guys are not entirely indigenous to Irish folklore. In fact, a lot of what is known about these gruesome goblins comes from the mythology of the Anglo-Scottish border, with the added emphasis of their presence largely manifesting in the crumbling ruins of castles.

Playing an expecting English couple who move to rural Ireland to find peace (but, of course, find the complete opposite) are Hannah John-Kamen ("Game of Thrones," "Ant-Man and the Wasp") and Douglas Booth ("Great Expectations," "Jupiter Ascending") in leading roles. Supporting are Colm Meaney, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell (Michelle in "Derry Girls"), Kristian Nairn, Niamh Cusack, and Rick Warden. With John-Kamen and Booth being the only English actors among a supporting cast of Irish thespians, the thematic tension between colonizer and colonized will surely be heightened.

"Unwelcome" is directed by Jon Wright and co-written by Wright and screenwriter Mark Stay; the two previously working together on 2014's post-apocalyptic "Robot Overlords." Wright is no stranger to helming creature features: the director was behind 2012's "Grabbers," about face-hugging aliens that invade an Irish island, as well as 2009's "Tormented," which follows the ghost of a bullied boy who haunts his tormentors. According to an Empire interview with the director, we can expect "Unwelcome" to aim for socially conscious horror commentary:

"Films like "Hereditary," "It Follows" and "The Witch," they're horrors, but they have something to say", he says. "'Unwelcome' is in the vein of these modern horrors where we can get into these more interesting themes and subjects, like the politics of English people turning up and living in this big house in Ireland. We explore that quite a bit."

Let's hope that they can successfully hit the mark here!

Lastly, here you'll find the trailer for "Unwelcome," as well as the official synopsis of the film.

A couple (Hannah John-Kamen, Douglas Booth) escapes their urban nightmare to the tranquility of rural Ireland only to hear stories of mysterious beings who live in the gnarled, ancient wood at the foot of their new garden. As warned by their new neighbors, in Irish lore the Redcaps will come when called to help souls in dire need of rescue, but it's crucial to remember that there is always a dear price to pay for their aid.