'Outcast' is welcome here any time.
As Mary and her teenage son, Fergal, move to yet another new home, it becomes clear that they are living their lives on the run, hiding from someone or something, terrified of being found. Trying, as usual, to make new friends wherever they find themselves, Fergal wins the affections of a beautiful and feisty neighbour. But his fiercely protective mother, suspicious of everyone and everything, will stop at nothing to protect her precious son.
Their pursuer is Cathal, dangerous and terrifying, and apparently intent on tracking down and killing both Mary and Fergal. Their fear mounts as local residents fall victim to a series of brutal murders, believed to be committed by some kind of inhuman creature. Is Cathal the beast responsible for the killings? Or is Cathal not what he seems, and actually trying to destroy the beast?
The McCarthy brothers, Colm and Tom, bring some interesting ideas to the table in regards to Celtic mysticism and Sidhe [pronounced Shee] though any reading that I have done briefly prior to writing up this review would hint at a far prettier variety of fairy than depicted in this film. That being said, their depiction of the fabled fairy is nasty and violent and that suits me just fine. This isn't your Julia Roberts Tinkerbell. In the film the ways of this Celtic mysticism are followed by very few any more. Cathal is joined on his hunt by Liam who prepares the rituals that will help them find Mary and Fergal. Cathal also has to undergo a series of tattoos on his back that will empower him when it comes time to killing Fergal. We don't get to see a lot of this cultural mysticism on our side of the pond and it is refreshing, as much as deadly fairies, gutted pigeons and bloody runes can be.
For most of the film the most interesting storyline by far is the one between Mary and Cathal. Though nothing of their connection is revealed until the end of the film it supplies the bulk of the tension. But, by the end of the film though all the storylines begin to slip towards the silly side or wrap up far too quickly for their own good and do not do justice to the tension the script builds throughout most of the run time, which is a shame. The only concern I have about Outcast is there is a clear mismatch of energy between storylines. Anything with Mary or Cathal is really tense but when you get to Fergal and Petronella the film loses stamina and crawls. I understand it can't be yell, yell, yell and curse, curse, curse all the time it's just the energy in these scenes fumbles. Niall Bruton broods and mopes as any teen dream should. Hanna Stanbridge is the better of the two as her Petronella is called upon to be the real motivator of the pair. Her family situation is a bit more interesting too for that matter. She has to cope with her alcoholic mother and care for her mentally challenged brother. Fergal just has to stay indoors most of the time.
Other than that the film is an impressive debut for Colm McCarthy and his brother Tom, who also wrote the film with Colm. And hats off to Darren Tiernan for simply marvellous photography work. There is some excellent color and shadow work in this film and some of the external shots of the apartment blocks bathed in the light of the setting sun particularly stand out for me. Outcast clearly shows a tremendous amount of potential in Colm and Tom. I figure if they can perfect the balance of energy and flow in their films to come they can make a real name for themselves outside of their native Ireland.
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