Don’t make the mistake I made and watch this alone. Not because it’s scary, although there are a few well-done tense moments. Watch it with others because this is a really fun movie, and it deserves that kind of viewing. You’re going to want to make fun of it, compliment it, point out all the various homages to other “creature” films…and just have a good time with it. You’re not going to understand half of what the characters are saying, anyway. The Irish accents are so thick, you’ll probably want subtitles. But that doesn’t really matter. Like I said—have fun with it!

The Irish have been growing their film industry, and—somewhat disappointingly—it’s been very hit or miss. This one, however, is a hit. I expected a very low-budget affair, and I imagine the budget isn’t that much with this film, but they did a brilliant job with what they had. The special effects are quite good, as is the acting. Ruth Bradley, as the co-lead/love interest, was charmingly adorable, and although I had my doubts about Richard Coyle as the other lead, he didn’t disappoint. The only actor I recognized (from The Commitments!) was Bronagh Gallagher, who had a small part as the bar owner’s wife. And she was good, too. In fact, pretty much everybody in the film seemed as though they belonged in this small, seaside Irish village. And even the monster has personality!

The homages, and there are a few, worked well for me. I think it was because the movie didn’t take itself so seriously. Had it tried to be more of a traditional film, they would have completely broken the tone. But in what I can only describe as the Shaun of the Dead version of a “creature feature,” they fit right in and contribute to the fun. The first twenty minutes or so were straight out of Jaws, and I caught references to Gremlins, Alien, and Aliens, AND Shaun of the Dead, among others. It’s hard to walk a fine line between seriousness and parody, and I think this film does it well. Hell, the plot should tell you that—a nasty, tentacled creature that drinks blood but is deathly allergic to alcohol goes looking for a meal…and just happens to come ashore in Ireland. If they’re willing to embrace the stereotype, who am I to argue?

This has all the makings of a cult monster film—a nice blend of humor, action, and horror; likeable characters; decent special effects (but c’mon, don’t go in expecting Star Wars quality); and a sense of familiarity of the genre. Some of you will thank me for telling you about this one. The rest of you need to lighten up and stop being so snobbish about your horror films. Relax and have a drink, even. It could just save your life.

IMDB has 6.2. I say 6.5. I think I’d probably go up to a 7.0 even, if I could understand more of the dialogue! (running time 1:34)