This appreciably loopy horror / comedy takes place on Erin Island, a community for fishermen off the coast of Ireland. Richard Coyle plays police officer / amiable lush Ciaran O'Shea, who's given the job of showing around new arrival Lisa Nolan (Ruth Bradley). Soon they find their hands full: pilot whale carcasses litter the shore, and people are disappearing. The culprit is discovered by likable lug Paddy Barrett (Lalor Roddy): a species of (alien?) blood drinking squid like creature, that thrives in the water. Ciaran and Lisa discover that the secret to making themselves and their fellow citizens less appetizing to the monster will come rather naturally.
"Grabbers" deals in obvious stereotypes, to be sure, and it hits a lot of the expected beats for a genre story of this nature. It may not be original in terms of basic plot, but it does put a modestly interesting and charming Irish spin on a tried and true formula. Sometimes it gets a little tiresome, but it manages to deliver a fair amount of laughs. It starts somewhat slow (after a "grabber" of an opening) but builds in intensity until an action packed climax in the rain. The creature design is reasonably enjoyable, and the visual effects (and gore) are easy enough to take. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio allows for some pretty picturesque visuals.
Coyle is an engaging hero; he's flawed, but it comes as no surprise when he is able to rise to the occasion when the excrement hits the fan. The lovely Bradley is an appealing heroine, and she displays a fine comic ability in the later parts when she gets good and drunk. The supporting cast is solid as well: Russell Tovey as biologist Dr. Adam Smith, Bronagh Gallagher as area local Una Maher, David Pearse as Brian the barman, Ned Dennehy as Cooney, and Pascal Scott as Dr. Gleeson.
Monster movie lovers ought to have a pretty good time with this one.
Seven out of 10.
"Grabbers" deals in obvious stereotypes, to be sure, and it hits a lot of the expected beats for a genre story of this nature. It may not be original in terms of basic plot, but it does put a modestly interesting and charming Irish spin on a tried and true formula. Sometimes it gets a little tiresome, but it manages to deliver a fair amount of laughs. It starts somewhat slow (after a "grabber" of an opening) but builds in intensity until an action packed climax in the rain. The creature design is reasonably enjoyable, and the visual effects (and gore) are easy enough to take. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio allows for some pretty picturesque visuals.
Coyle is an engaging hero; he's flawed, but it comes as no surprise when he is able to rise to the occasion when the excrement hits the fan. The lovely Bradley is an appealing heroine, and she displays a fine comic ability in the later parts when she gets good and drunk. The supporting cast is solid as well: Russell Tovey as biologist Dr. Adam Smith, Bronagh Gallagher as area local Una Maher, David Pearse as Brian the barman, Ned Dennehy as Cooney, and Pascal Scott as Dr. Gleeson.
Monster movie lovers ought to have a pretty good time with this one.
Seven out of 10.