Strange, Surreal, and Completely Unapologetic

Read Time:4 Minute, 18 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Fishmonger
–

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Short
Year Released: 2023, 2025
Runtime: 26m
Director(s): Neil Ferron
Writer(s): Neil Ferron, Alex Dennis-Renner
Cast: Dominic Burgess, Donnla Hughes, Penny O’Brien
Where To Watch: shown at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival

RAVING REVIEW: Some films demand your attention by playing it safe, while others throw caution to the wind, dragging you into a world that is equal parts mesmerizing and bizarre. This one firmly belongs in the latter category. With its eerie black-and-white cinematography and an unpredictable fusion of horror, dark comedy, and romance, it delivers an experience that is as fascinating as it is unsettling. It embraces the grotesque without hesitation, revels in absurdity, and leaves no room for passive viewing. Whether you find yourself drawn to its audacity or baffled by its sheer weirdness, one thing is certain—it doesn’t fade from memory quickly.

At the center of it all is Christie O’Mallaghan, a man as awkward as he is unlucky. His mother, Kathleen, is dying from a disturbing illness, and unless he marries before her time is up, her soul is doomed. The problem? The only available woman on the island has no interest in him. With nowhere else to turn, he seeks out a legendary sea creature named Sinead, rumored to have the power to grant wishes. What he asks for and receives aren’t quite the same, and soon, he is entangled in something far more complicated than he anticipated.

Visually, the film is a love letter to classic horror, with stark black-and-white cinematography heightening the isolation of its setting. The lack of color makes every shadow feel heavier and every grotesque detail sharper. The practical effects further enhance the film's unsettling nature, from Kathleen’s grotesque affliction to Sinead's design. Everything feels deliberately handcrafted, bringing an old-school charm to this piece of storytelling.

Donnla Hughes as Sinead, a presence that is both unnerving and strangely compelling. She isn’t just a force of nature but something more—an embodiment of longing, temptation, and the consequences of seeking easy solutions to impossible problems. Her interactions with Christie range from unsettling to tender, giving the film an emotional weight beneath its grotesque surface.

But while the film leans heavily into its surreal atmosphere, it occasionally struggles to maintain a steady tone. The humor is deliberately crude, often colliding with moments of genuine emotional intensity. Sometimes, it feels like the film is at war with itself, unsure whether it wants to be a twisted love story, a grotesque dark comedy, or something else entirely. This unpredictability is its strength and weakness—it keeps things engaging but occasionally undermines its more serious moments.

The pacing, while energetic, doesn’t leave much room to explore the world it builds. The island setting, full of folklore and superstition, could have added an extra layer to the narrative, but much of it remains unexplored in favor of moving the plot along. Slowing down to flesh out these elements might have made for a richer experience without losing the film’s chaotic charm.

Despite these hiccups, this film has a bold sense of identity. It is unapologetically strange, never once trying to conform to expectations. It knows exactly what it wants to be and delivers on that vision, whether you love it or not. The dedication to practical effects, the atmospheric cinematography, and the sheer willingness to be weird all work in its favor.

This kind of movie will either click with you instantly or leave you completely bewildered. It thrives on excess and absurdity, playing with genre conventions in ways that will excite some and frustrate others. But even if it isn’t entirely successful in balancing its elements, it is undeniably a unique and memorable watch. This is well worth a look for those who appreciate films that push boundaries and refuse to play by the rules.

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