What’s so good about a film which is pretty badly written, badly acted, stolidly directed and without any real redeeming features? Not a lot really, unless that film happens to be Rawhead Rex.
Clive Barker was writer of the original short story, and he’s credited with the screenplay too (although I hear he’s not too happy with the film).
This was a great big direct to video hit in the 1980s. It seemed to be in every video shop in east Leeds and everyone had seen it.
It does have a few scares, it does have a few funny lines, it does have a monster whose face never changes expression and its mouth barely moves either. But come on, it’s a 1980s Irish monster movie, what’s not to like?
Personal favourite bits?
- That attack on the farmhouse is pretty scary
- The opening sequence with the farmer who has to get home because “me tea’s on the table”
- The mad priest
- An attack on a gypsy caravan park (Tyson Fury would be, well, furious)
I found the trailer online, it’s below…I have no shame in posting this!
So, 54 films to go…
Matthew Cooper has written for Emmerdale, Eastenders, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs. He was winner of the first ever Lloyds Bank Channel Four Film Challenge and the Oscar Moore Screenplay Prize. His first short film starred a then unknown Ewan McGregor and was picked up by Channel Four when Matthew was 19 years old. He’s been a script writer for hire and filmmaker for hire for over 20 years.