‘Unwelcome’ Blu-Ray Review – Irish Creature Feature Is Saved By An Unhinged Third Act

A couple escapes their urban nightmare to the tranquility of rural Ireland only to hear stories of mysterious beings who live in the gnarled, ancient wood at the foot of their new garden. As warned by their new neighbors, in Irish lore the Redcaps will come when called to help souls in dire need of rescue, but it’s crucial to remember that there is always a dear price to pay for their aid.

For in-depth thoughts on Unwelcome, please see my colleague Andre Couture’s review from its original theatrical release here. 

Video Quality

Unwelcome comes to Blu-Ray with a really good AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. The hues that saturate the frame are lovely and very natural from the greens of the foliage to the pops of color in the clothing. The color palette mostly remains natural, but some scenes favor a more earthy grade when out in the woods. Black levels could dig slightly deeper, but there is not much in the way of crush and skin tones are natural throughout. 

Where the transfer really shines is the impressive level of detail in even the subtlest aspects of the house and the forest. Even small details such as dried blood provide texture that is precisely defined here. The picture is mostly clear with only brief instances of murkiness during a few darker scenes. The film does deliver some softer shots for creative reasons on occasion, but nothing that would distract from the viewing experience. The film sports some nice cinematography, even if we wish the house could have been shot on location instead of on an obvious set. Overall, this is a great transfer from Well Go USA. 

Audio Quality

The film comes to Blu-Ray with a worthy DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track. The movie provides a pretty distinct workout with environmental sounds that yield an immersive atmosphere for the story. The low end of the track is especially active during moments of violence within the finale with some heavy hits. The dialogue and sound effects are appropriately balanced with the score where nothing gets muddled in the track. Surround channels get some nice activity during the nature scenes and any lead up to a grotesque reveal. This track is quite powerful, and will be appreciated by horror fans who pick up this disc. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided. 

Special Features

• Behind The Scenes: A 13-minute piece in which the cast and creative team discuss the ideas behind the narrative, what attracted the performers to the project, weaving in classic myths, how the characters respond to their situations and more. 

• Making The Redcaps: A nearly six-minute piece in which Prosthetic Supervisor Shaun Harrison discusses his approach to the design of the Redcaps, physically making the masks and more. 

• Trailer: The two-minute trailer establishes the unique atmosphere of the film without giving away too many of the surprises. There are also trailers provided for Project Wolf Hunting, The Loneliest Boy In The World and Death Knot. 

Final Thoughts

Unwelcome is bookended by some very effective moments, but the middle is a little bit more slow and plodding than it needs to be. There are elements of the story that could have been tightened up to make a more streamlined narrative, but the finale is so deliriously fun that it makes up for a lot of the shortcomings. The lead performance Hannah John-Kamen is very believable, and the ruffians who are terrorizing her are appropriately loathsome to the point of wanting to delight in their demise. The film offers some creature carnage that is unique, so those tuning in for that should have a good time (even if you do have to wait until the end to be fully satiated). Well Go USA Entertainment has delivered a great A/V presentation and a small assortment of special features for those who do decide to check out the film. If the premise appeals to you, you should give this one a shot. Recommended 

Unwelcome will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 9, 2023.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Well Go USA Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.