The Banshees Of Inisherin

Less cash-grabbing rehashing sequel/prequels and more reunions of Director and stars please.

The Banshees of Inisherin is the perfect example of how to follow up a classic film, by technically not following it up at all. Instead, it reunites stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson with writer/Director Martin McDonagh from the masterful In Bruges for a completely different tale.

If you’re a fan of that earlier film though (essential watching for those who haven’t seen it) or indeed any of McDonagh’s work, this will be equally enjoyable. As always, his script is absolutely sharp as a tack, a play in film form with pitch-black humour offsetting a story of a friendship breakup which might just be a metaphor for the Irish civil war of the 1920’s.

Farrell and Gleeson are on awards-worthy form, both have to toe the line just so between likable and unlikable and sell the journey that their respective characters go through as they drift apart and grow resentful, and they’re ably supported by brilliant supporting turns from Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan (who gets to deliver some of the funniest and darkest lines.)

It’s a slow burn, and won’t be to everyone’s taste, but this is likely to go down as another cult comedy classic in the vein of the aforementioned In Bruges, Withnail & I, This Is Spinal Tap et al as a quotable, dark comedy with a lot to say by way of subtext and metaphor.

A glorious treat and reunion.

4 stars ****