Deep within secluded forest land in rural Ireland, dwells an ancient evil.
Feared by the superstitious villagers as cursed creatures who prey upon the lost, their secrets have been kept from civilisation and remain on their hallowed ground.
But when a conservationist from London moves in with his wife and child in order to survey the land for future construction, his actions unwittingly disturb the horde of demonic forces.
Alone in a remote wilderness, he must now ensure his family's survival from their relentless attacks......
This film could have gone one of two different ways halfway through the second act. It could have gone all out creepy neighbour sacrifice type horror film, which would have suited it, given the isolated setting, Straw Dog type characters, and the vulnerability of a young child and it's mother.
But the film went down the creature feature way, and it's an equally good decision, because we are still left with the traits that the other decision would have also used, albeit in different connotations.
The build up to the creature reveal is decidedly creepy, but a little mundane too, as it has that all too well knowing Wicker Man meets Straw Dogs vibe to it, the villagers warning the wife to tell her husband to stay off the titular ground, and the sinister but nice policeman played by the ever excellent Michael Smiley.
But as soon as the monsters reveal their ugly heads, it's out with the creepiness, and in with the body horror and house under siege scenario.
It shouldn't work, because the first thing you think of is The Descent, but what keeps you involved right until the very end, is the fact that Adam, who has become infected, is doubting the existence of their child.
Is it a Changeling as he states, or is the creature taking over his mind as well as his appearance. This sub-plot really gives the film that little more urgency other than the old running away from screaming creatures and hoping they don't catch us theme we've seen a dozen times before.
And it's to the films credit also that the cast are wonderful, and the cinematography is suitably claustrophobic.
So all in all, it's a pretty effective horror movie, let down by slightly stereotypical villagers, and a really out of place soundtrack.
And so much better than The Hollow, which I mistakingly saw thinking it was this movie....
Feared by the superstitious villagers as cursed creatures who prey upon the lost, their secrets have been kept from civilisation and remain on their hallowed ground.
But when a conservationist from London moves in with his wife and child in order to survey the land for future construction, his actions unwittingly disturb the horde of demonic forces.
Alone in a remote wilderness, he must now ensure his family's survival from their relentless attacks......
This film could have gone one of two different ways halfway through the second act. It could have gone all out creepy neighbour sacrifice type horror film, which would have suited it, given the isolated setting, Straw Dog type characters, and the vulnerability of a young child and it's mother.
But the film went down the creature feature way, and it's an equally good decision, because we are still left with the traits that the other decision would have also used, albeit in different connotations.
The build up to the creature reveal is decidedly creepy, but a little mundane too, as it has that all too well knowing Wicker Man meets Straw Dogs vibe to it, the villagers warning the wife to tell her husband to stay off the titular ground, and the sinister but nice policeman played by the ever excellent Michael Smiley.
But as soon as the monsters reveal their ugly heads, it's out with the creepiness, and in with the body horror and house under siege scenario.
It shouldn't work, because the first thing you think of is The Descent, but what keeps you involved right until the very end, is the fact that Adam, who has become infected, is doubting the existence of their child.
Is it a Changeling as he states, or is the creature taking over his mind as well as his appearance. This sub-plot really gives the film that little more urgency other than the old running away from screaming creatures and hoping they don't catch us theme we've seen a dozen times before.
And it's to the films credit also that the cast are wonderful, and the cinematography is suitably claustrophobic.
So all in all, it's a pretty effective horror movie, let down by slightly stereotypical villagers, and a really out of place soundtrack.
And so much better than The Hollow, which I mistakingly saw thinking it was this movie....