Horror is not something that has been exclusive to Hollywood and North America. Some of the greatest films the genre has ever produced have come from elsewhere in the world, such as Let the Right One In or Train to Busan as just a couple of examples. A new film from director John Farrelly seeks to bring that tradition to Ireland with his new film An Taibhse, which holds the distinction of being the first Irish-language horror film ever made. As difficult as that is to believe, it’s no less important that the time has finally come.
An Taibhse, aka The Ghost, now exists as the first and only horror movie produced entirely in the Irish language. The film previously played to a sold out crowd at Galway Film Fleadh. Next up, Farrelly’s groundbreaking genre film will head to FrightFest, the UK’s biggest horror and fantasy film festival, which has a stacked lineup this year. As for what the film is about? The synopsis reads as follows:
“An Taibhse unfolds in the bleak landscape of post-famine Ireland, exploring the profound hardships faced by its people. The narrative centers around Éamon (Tom Kerrisk) and his daughter Máire (Livvy Hill), who take on the task of maintaining a remote Georgian mansion through the harsh winter. What begins as a seemingly tranquil responsibility soon spirals into terror as they encounter inexplicable phenomena.”
Six-time Oscar nominee Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot) is on board as an executive producer, with Anthony Murphy and Tom Stafford rounding out the main ensemble. The film is currently seeking distribution but that’s what these festival runs are generally good for. In a statement, Farrelly had this to say about his proudly Irish feature:
“Being the first Irish language horror film, An Taibhse holds a special place for us in terms of both the genre and our culture. We made this film on a modest budget with a small, dedicated team, and we stayed true to the Irish language throughout. The journey from the initial idea to preparing for festival premieres worldwide has been tough but very rewarding. From the challenges of pre-production to filming in the freezing winter, every step tested our limits. Despite these hardships, we poured our hearts into this project and are immensely proud of what we’ve created.”
An Taibhse (The Ghost) premieres at FrightFest on August 23. For more, be sure to check out our rundown of fresh horror movies from all over the world.
