The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) Review

Two lifelong friends are about to reach a very strange time when one of them very abruptly decides to end the relationship, without being able to really give massive reasons and this will result in extreme consequences for them both and the small village they live in.

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*LFF 2022 Preview Screening*

Padraic enjoys his life and looks forward to heading to the pub everyday at 2pm, along with his best friend Colm. One day he knocks on his door and he just sits in a chair smoking and ignores his calls. When he then heads to the pub and tells Padraic that he no longer wants to talk to him or be his friend anymore, because he just doesn’t like him now. A stunned Padraic cannot come to terms with this especially as he liked him the previous day.

A keen fiddle player Colm, wants nothing more than to write music and songs that people will remember when he is long dead and wants to focus his time on just that. Padraic just wanted to enjoy his time and be a nice fella, but attempting to come to terms with the loss of this friendship and the drastic measures Colm threatens he just cannot leave the situation alone. Despite the support and help from his sister Siobhan who wants nothing more than her brother to be happy as possible in the mundane lives they are living. Then throw in Dominic who is a troubled young man who wants nothing more than people to like him and to even find love. You cannot help but really feel sorry for him as he means no harm to anymore and does offer support to Padraic during the difficult times.

Dark comedies can sometimes be very risky as they get very close to the moral lines where you aren’t entirely sure if you should be laughing or appalled. I guess that is why nailing this genre is quite difficult but truly special when it is pulled off. I feel as though Martin McDonagh is back on top form with the style of this film and for me it more than confirms that he really should always have Irish characters within his films, while I would still place this below In Bruges it really does deserve so much credit.

Taking on a story of a male friendship ending is interesting as we never really think about friendships ending, we more focus on love relationships ending. This makes it very thought provoking as when I think about friendships I have had during my lifetime some just fade out when he hit different phases of your life, it doesn’t mean anyone has done anything wrong or one person has turned around and said “I don’t want to be your friend anymore” you just grow apart. That is part of life and this film will make you think and wonder about all of that.

The performances are all utterly outstanding and I am fully behind Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson being in so many more films together because they are just so perfect opposite one another. Farrell gives off that rather innocent vibe and you cannot help but be on his side, although his character does take a rather dark turn but I am sure we can understand why. Gleeson is so miserable from start to finish that it just works so very well. Barry Keoghan takes on the strange characters in a remarkable way and that is no different in this one, scene stealing is an art he seems to have fully accomplished. Kerry Condon might not get as many plaudits as the rest of the cast but she is easily an unsung hero of the film, in terms that she helps to balance out so many moments and scenes.

I was super excited to see this film and I have to say that I am thrilled with how much I enjoyed everything about it.