Conor McMahon’s Let the Wrong One In is set in Ireland and comes complete with a super-rich brogue and assorted regional expressions. If you’re a fan of Roddy Doyle‘s work (The Commitments among others), then you may welcome these as old friends. I love an Irish production, but even so I did find some of the dialogue hard to decipher at times–though that could be a product of my advancing age. However, as it’s an uncomplicated plot with tons of visuals this was of little consequence.

So, hands up who’s seen Trainspotting? And hands up who’s not familiar with the Scottish accent and could barely understand it? You may wonder why I’m wittering on about a film based on drug culture that’s set in Scotland when I’m meant to be reviewing an Irish movie about vampires. Well, those of you who’ve watched anything where a strong accent reflects on the dialogue (Trainspotting‘s ‘Scawttishness’ being a fine example) will know that unless you’re familiar with the accent in question (along with any associated colloquialisms), then you’ll possibly have a hard time with it.

Transylvania: A hen night. Having just pulled off a drink-and-dash from a bar, bride-to-be Sheila (Mary Murray) finds herself in the pale, clammy grasp of a peckish vampire. This ends badly for Sheila, who then, drunkenly and inevitably, joins the ranks of the undead (totally ruining her outfit in the process).

Cut to Northside Dublin, where Deco (Eoin Duffy) is in a bad way. As he staggers along, cringing from the sun and looking like he’s just been dug up, we’d be forgiven for thinking he’s feeling the after effects of an overindulgent night, but he’s not that lucky. He’s the estranged loser older brother of too-nice-for-his-own-good Matt (Karl Rice), who lives rather long-sufferingly with his mum (Hilda Fay), who’s banned Deco from the house and her life after one too many unpleasant drug-induced incidents. After she leaves for work, Deco plays Matt’s heartstrings and is invited inside, where it becomes evident what ails him; he’s become a vampire after being jumped in the toilets of a club by the globetrotting Sheila, who apparently doesn’t uphold the basic principles of marriage (seemingly more intent these days on infecting the world with vampire love).

By way of seeking a solution, Matt happens upon Henry, a taxi driver masquerading as a doctor (who also happens to be a vampire hunter on the sly), who explains the importance of stopping the spread of vampiness forthwith, lest they take over the world.

Fans of the late, great TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer will delight in seeing the always superb Anthony Head in his role here as the weary pursuant of Sheila (in whom he has a vested interest) and her expanding fangdom.

This leaves Matt with a sticky problem; does he kill his bitey brother and fight the good fight for all of mankind? Or does he save him and run the risk of a future of eternal darkness due to serious vampire infestation?

Tricky.

Though there are plenty of verbal (albeit sometimes slightly cheesy) gags, much of the plot is supported by a healthy dose of slapstick, disgustingly amusing gore, and unusual cinematography. Well-chosen music (especially in the opening scene and Deco’s post-binge dream sequence) echo the general theme of Let the Wrong One In, which ends up being a crazy Shaun of the Dead-style affair tweaked with the effortlessly understated humour unique to so many Irish films.

7.5 out of 10 Bloodthirsty Brides-to-be