UNWELCOME (2022)

UNWELCOME (2022) — A Folk Horror That Welcomes You In, Then Shuts the Door Behind You

UNWELCOME (2022) is a tense, atmospheric folk-horror film that blends traditional Irish mythology with real-world anxieties about trauma, home, and who really belongs. Directed by Jon Wright (Grabbers), the film tells the story of a young British couple, Maya (Hannah John-Kamen) and Jamie (Douglas Booth), who inherit a cottage in rural Ireland after a traumatic home invasion in London. Hoping to start anew, they soon discover that escaping the past is never as easy as crossing a border — especially when ancient forces are waiting in the woods.

The couple is warned early on by a superstitious neighbor: always leave a blood offering at the garden’s edge for “the little people.” At first, Maya and Jamie dismiss it as local folklore. But as unsettling events unfold — missing pets, strange noises at night, and mysterious figures watching from the shadows — they begin to realize that something very old and very real is claiming ownership of their land… and their lives.

Wright cleverly mixes psychological horror with creature feature, creating a growing sense of claustrophobia in the wide-open countryside. The cinematography is rich and moody, often contrasting the warm, golden landscapes of rural Ireland with the chilling, inescapable dread lurking just beyond the hedgerow.

John-Kamen gives a compelling performance as Maya, a woman trying to reclaim her strength after trauma, only to be tested in increasingly disturbing ways. The real horror of UNWELCOME isn’t just the goblin-like Redcaps lurking in the woods — it’s the fear of being isolated, unbelieved, and unwanted in your own home. The creatures serve as a symbolic extension of suppressed rage, cultural resentment, and generational secrets.

While some tonal shifts in the third act lean toward the bizarre and even campy, the film remains grounded by its emotional stakes and strong performances. The practical effects are refreshing, and the violence — when it comes — is sudden, personal, and brutal.

UNWELCOME is a modern fairy tale told with teeth. It's a story about borders — between countries, homes, and identities — and what happens when ancient forces decide who does and doesn’t belong. At once eerie, emotional, and darkly whimsical, it’s a folk horror gem that lingers long after the final scream.