Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Unwelcome’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Hannah John-Kamen as “Maya” in Jon Wright’s UNWELCOME. (Photo Courtesy of Shudder. A Shudder Release.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Unwelcome’.
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One particular question that has plagued mankind throughout its long and winding history… is what pushes people to embrace their inner darkness, and it makes sense as to why we continue to ask that question. In part because, we are born innocent and without an ounce of malice in our hearts, so it makes no sense that people would actively choose to harm others. Not to mention, the world we live in is filled with great beauty and kindness. The kind that should move anyone thinking of evil to tears and make them think twice about what they are about to do. Yet… darkness continues to exist in our world and people continue to hurt other people and we ask that question time and time again, even as our understanding of why has started to grow.
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Because modern science has started to reveal that trauma can be a factor in creating darkness within a person, since their inability to process rough emotions can push them to lash out and do bad things. Not to mention, childhood trauma and poor parenting and bad behaviors in that regard, can break a psyche and push it toward something sinister. But perhaps the most fascinating aspect of all, is how environment and a few bad days can push people to embrace darkness. But what makes us continue to question why, is that we simply don’t understand what specific moment someone’s breaking point could be or how a person finally comes to make the active choice to cause harm, and we don’t know how we prevent all that, and well… that is where fiction is quite helpful for certain. Since it can explore those possibilities and offer answers in a safe environment and well… it just so happens that a brand-new feature on Shudder, ponders upon the genesis of what makes good people go bad, and that makes Unwelcome, a fascinating story.

One that shows us… a couple attempting their best to avoid the darkness. For we are introduced to Jamie and Maya on their darkest day. Because shortly after coming to learn they are about to become parents, a rough encounter with some unsavory folks leads to a home invasion and a near loss of their lives. Which is why they are over the moon when Jamie’s aunt passes. Because she leaves them her cottage in Ireland, away from the hustle and bustle, and trouble of the city. Wherein they can heal and raise their little one in privacy and with hope for tomorrow and at first, it seems as though they have found their utopia and can move forward. But their introduction to the Whelan family and the discovery that their home is positioned close to a forest that harbors something mystical and ancient… and deadly…. is going to test their good nature and their desire to heal in ways they never thought possible. 

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Douglas Booth as “Jamie” in Jon Wright’s UNWELCOME. (Photo Courtesy of Shudder. A Shudder Release.)

​Which really is… the perfect way to explore how people are moved to embrace darkness, and the why. Because what it all boils down to is that Jamie and Maya are put through utter hell in this story. For they are indeed good, everyday people, just trying to get by… but everywhere they go and everywhere they turn, someone or something is pushing them and harming them and working to take advantage of their good nature. And well… that can warp a person’s worldview, the trauma can ignite survival instincts and fury and when the moment is right… it can push a person to just say… enough. Enough with the rules, enough with the high road, what about me? Which leads to some powerfully dark moments in this already bleak story, the kind that informs us that the why is far simpler than we know and that really… to stop evil we need to be more supportive of everyone because one can only wonder what this couple would have become with a spark of hope in their hearts. 
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Of course, that is easier said than done since the world is indeed a place where apathy persists. But this movie isn’t here to fix that, it is just here to offer the answers we seek, and it accomplishes that and offers us so much more. Because the horror elements in this story are quite incredible to say the least, for there was mention that this couple have moved in near something fantastical and they are indeed neighbors with Red Caps. Which are creatures that are a variation of the Leprechaun, and they are… simply put… quite frightening. Because they are smarmy and slick little monsters that evoke childhood fears and move with a fierceness and ferocity that makes them utterly terrifying in this feature and they are the suppliers of all the gore we adore and definitely leave our skin crawling and add to the uniqueness of this motion picture. One that is also shot in a supremely fascinating manner.

As though we are moving through this story in a dream like state, or a fantasy story and that only adds to the brilliance of this tale. Since that is the perfect way to explore how Jamie and Maya’s worldview has changed following trauma and how desperately they are trying to hold onto the good in their hearts and well… all of these elements make this movie necessary viewing. Simply because it explores some fascinating topics about our world while offering up terrifying entertainment. Not to mention, it’s filled with fine acting, since Douglas Booth and (Jamie) and Hannah John-Kamen (Maya) sell their characters’ struggles with raw honesty and it also doesn’t hurt that Colm Meaney (Daddy Whelan) and Kristian Nairn (Eoin Whelan) are in this film as well, and steal every single scene they are in with the gravitas only they can provide, and well… the best news of all is that you can see this movie right now. For Unwelcome is streaming on Shudder and we hope you give it a look, because you can never go wrong with a story that offers intelligence and observation in a manner this engaging.

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