An Taibhse (A Ghost)

This is a slightly amended review from the one first published for London FrightFest 2024.

For all of Ireland’s great tradition in horror and fantasy film, it is surprising that this this the first Irish language horror film.

Set at the time of British rule and the famine, Máire (Livvy Hill) and father Éamon (Tom Kerrisk) have been given the opportunity to look after a huge country house where they’ll live and perform their duties as required.

For Máire, that’s the cooking and household chores, for Éamon that’s the manly stuff of chopping wood. It works to a certain extent though Máire has been seeing and hearing things. This annoys her father, who is frustrated that his daughter hasn’t moved on from the death of her mother.

When Éamon chops his toe, Máire must take on his tasks. Here the film takes a turn to the familiar with the ghost taking on a more malevolent form and father emptying the cellar of booze, his character changing accordingly.

There are no doubt elements of The Shining here even down to a harsh winter and axes. However that’s superficial as writer and director John Farrelly develops the plot and characters.

Farrelly indulges Kerrisk with a long, nasty diatribe against his daughter, vicious mental and physical abuse. For Hill there’s the anguish and very real fear of her father and the ghost: her vulnerability, is palpable, though she maintains her resolve that she is right about the house.

It’s a single location film but what a location with Farrelly taking advantage of everything that a rundown grand house in the middle of a ruggedly beautiful landscape can offer a ghost story. It’s strikingly shot with his use of shadow and space enhanced by an excellent sound design.

An Taibhse is available on Shudder US.