GRABBERS (2011) review

Grabbers (2011) (1st viewing) d. Wright, Jon (Ireland/UK)

Finally, an intelligent, well-executed CGI creature feature that earns worthy comparisons to Tremors, ably folding comedy into the monster mix without descending into campiness or bargain basement SyFy f/x. Hard drinking small town cop Richard Coyle is teamed with perky, by-the-book Ruth Bradley when his superior goes on holiday, a strained odd couple dynamic that only gathers steam after a school of massacred pilot whales wash ashore and a few residents go missing…incidents seemingly connected with a recent meteorite splash in the local loch. Screenwriter Kevin Lehane so effectively concocts his Irish island community – filled with colorful characters leveling witty, lived-in barbs at one another – viewers are thoroughly invested by the time the tentacled terrors from below show up, imbuing the fanciful premise with emotional stakes. The Paul Catlin-designed beasties are a fearsome lot, writhing, tangled masses radiating from a toothy maw (although in hatchling state, they’re actually quite cute, evidenced in a pub scene that evokes Gremlins in tone and hijinks), while the prospective human snacks’ counter-tactics are sly, inspired winks at the inebriated Irish archetype. Highly recommended.