Grabbers

"What killed him, Jim?"

"The fact he's just a head."

"Doctor, we really need to know."

"I dunno. A tiger?"

Not much happens on the small Irish island of Erin Island.  The sergeant of the police force is leaving for 2 weeks of vacation and brings in workaholic Garda Lisa Nolan (Bradley) to help alcoholic Garda Ciaran O'Shea (Coyle).  Nolan and O'Shea instantly clash.

Meanwhile, several fishermen from the town have gone missing and dead whales have washed up on the beach.  Paddy Barrett (Roddy) captures a strange creature that Dr. Adam Smith (Tovey) can't identify.  After several attacks they discover that the only way to survive the creatures is getting drunk.

A friend from high school brought this film to my attention, she raved about it and I had to give it a try.  And I'm glad I did!

The film is a nice mash of horror and comedy, with just the right amount of each.  The premise is funny and is carried out well.  The grabbers are menacing and comical.  But the real joy is the cast.  Richard Coyle (who I know from UK's Coupling and Terry Pratchett's Going Postal) is funny and charming as Ciaran O'Shea.  He is well-matched with Ruth Bradley as Lisa Nolan, who begins the film as the straight man but really shows her acting chops / comedic timing in the second half.  Apparently, director Jon Wright took his stars drinking, so that they could use some of that "research" towards their characters.

They have a great supporting cast.  Lalor Roddy is the town drunk, Paddy Barrett, is hilarious and a fan favorite.  Russell Tovey's Dr. Adam Smith is adorably awkward.  David Pearse and Bronagh Gallagher are the pub owners, Brian and Una Maher; they have some funny exchanges and great reactions.  Pascal Scott is the town veterinarian Dr. Jim Gleeson who is full of sarcasm.  The rest of the cast are memorable in their own right and get to have fun towards the end of the film.

Check it out!

Grabbers (2012) 94 minutes

Director: Jon Wright
Starring: Richard Coyle as Garda Ciaran O'Shea
Ruth Bradley as Garda Lisa Nolan
Russell Tovey as Dr. Adam Smith
Lalor Roddy as Paddy Barrett
David Pearse as Brian Maher
Bronagh Gallagher as Una Maher
Pascal Scott as Dr. Jim Gleeson