The Banshees of Inisherin: Movie Review

Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan
Director: Martin McDonagh

Reuniting his In Bruges co-stars Farrell and Gleeson once again, director Martin McDonagh hopes to recapture some of the cinematic magic of before in this tale of male friendships gone awry.

On the island of Inisherin off the coast of Ireland in 1923, Farrell's Padriac is a simple man, one who lets the animals into the home he shares with his sister, and who likes to catch up with his friend Colm (Gleeson) for a pint or two in the local.

Despite the conflict going on on the nearby mainland, where bombs go off without warning, Padraic isn't concerned with anything major. But his world is rocked when, one day without warning, he's shunned by Colm who refuses to speak to him again.

It seems without discernible reason, but as Colm stands firm, the standoff between the men escalates to horrifically catastrophic consequence...

There's no easy way to say it - The Banshees of Inisherin is a disappointment compared to the other black humour you'd be expecting from a reunion of this cast and director. While initially offering moments of dark humour, the film actually lends itself to a truly sad atmosphere which hangs around unexpectedly and casts a pall over proceedings.

Farrell looks like a wounded puppy throughout, as he tries to desperately to get his mate back; Gleeson by contrast is mean and malicious without provocation, curt and rude. Yet curiously, while McDonagh has you siding with one, he can masterfully turn it around in the latter part of the film as you find your allegiances switching unexpectedly throughout.

But The Banshees of Inisherin's appeal actually lies in its supporting cast.

Whether it's an examination of purgatory and not being able to move on, or a dissection of male friendship dissolving is all up for debate. What's not up for debate is the fantastic performances given by Keoghan and Condon, who are both trapped for different reasons and have their own dark moments of the soul to address. To say more is to spoil the film, but both these actors deserve accolades for their supporting roles.

Which is why it's curious that The Banshees of Inisherin doesn't quite feel like the homerun it should be.

Whether it's the near 2 hour run time that feels its weight as time goes on, or the unnecessarily edgy storyline thrown in for scandal's sake, there's something about all the elements which sadly doesn't gel as well as often as it should.

It may provoke debate over its message, and be better examined within its context, but on screen, while Farrell and Gleeson make for shocking sparring partners, it's not entirely clear what these moments of vulnerability and poignancy should cohesively congeal toward.