The darkness descends upon the screen with 'The Morrigan', a horror film that weaves a terrifying tale from the very fabric of Irish folklore. This cinematic behemoth brings to life the enigmatic Morrígan, a goddess shrouded in mystery and terror, traditionally associated with death and war. But here's the twist: she wasn't just a myth - this ancient pagan queen was said to have met her maker at the hands of Christians centuries ago. That brutal act sets off a chain reaction of vengeance that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Arcane secrets await discovery in the trenches of an archaeological dig, where the brilliant but maverick archaeologist Fiona (Saffron Burrows) is about to shake things up with her radical theory on the Morrígan's true identity. But it seems her groundbreaking ideas are about to be swept under the carpet by a less-than-enthusiastic colleague, Jonathan (Jonathan Forbes), who gets the nod for lead on the dig. As Fiona tries to get back in the game, she drags along her rebellious teenage daughter Lily (Emily Flain) - expelled from boarding school and in desperate need of a fresh start.
Things take a turn for the worse when the team stumbles upon the Morrígan's long-lost burial chamber. And by 'worse', I mean demonic powers are unleashed, exacting vengeance on our hapless heroes. The malevolent energy is palpable as Lily becomes possessed by the Morrígan - the signs are all there: blood-stained bathroom sink and a crop of gruesome hair loss.
As Fiona frantically battles to free her daughter from the Morrígan's grasp, the film hurtles into full-on horror mode. But it seems the male characters have other ideas, advocating for a scorched-earth policy that would annihilate the entity once and for all. The critics' consensus? Despite its initial promise of feminist iconography, 'The Morrigan' ultimately succumbs to familiar horror tropes.
A missed opportunity indeed - by framing the Morrígan as a malevolent force to be destroyed rather than exploring her potential as a powerful symbol of female resistance, 'The Morrigan' falters. And it's not just the narrative that gets called out: a particularly cringeworthy scene featuring a naked school-age character has been panned for its awkward handling of themes like patriarchy.