email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

PRODUCTION / FUNDING Ireland

Let the Wrong One In ready for release

by 

- Conor McMahon’s new feature will star emerging Irish talents Karl Rice, Mary Murray and Eoin Duffy along with Buffy the Vampire Slayer icon Anthony Head

Let the Wrong One In ready for release
Director Conor McMahon and actor Karl Rice on set (© Conor Dowling)

Irish filmmaker Conor McMahon (Stitches [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
) has just finalised post-production on his new feature Let the Wrong One In [+see also:
film review
film profile
]
, Cineuropa learns.

The story, penned by the helmer himself, follows a young supermarket worker called Matt, who is a little too nice for his own good. When he discovers that his older, estranged brother Deco has turned into a vampire, he is faced with a dilemma: Will he risk his own life to help his sibling, with blood being thicker than water? Or will he stake him before he spreads the infection further? 

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

The film stars upcoming Irish talents Karl Rice, Mary Murray and Eoin Duffy, along with Buffy the Vampire Slayer icon Anthony Head in the role of Henry, a taxi driver with a sideline in vampire hunting. The technical crew includes DoP Michael Lavelle, editor Brian Philip Davis, production designer Mark Kilbride and costume designer Joanne O’Brien.

The production was shot at various locations around Dublin, including the famous Bram Stoker museum “Castle Dracula”. The creative team behind the effort explained that McMahon wanted to make a film which was “a love letter to Dublin” in many ways, and that “it was key to the story that they filmed in real and iconic Dublin locations, rather than in a studio.”

Speaking about this choice, McMahon added: “Most of the films I’ve made have been in the countryside, as it provides an isolated setting, but I’ve always wanted to set one closer to home. Setting it in Dublin also meant I could lean into the local dialogue and humour that I’ve grown up with. It was really exciting to see it come to fruition.”

Now ready for release, the flick had a bumpy ride on its production journey. It was originally slated to commence production in mid-March 2020, but was stood down a few days before filming started, due to the initial COVID-19 restrictions. The crew managed to resume filming safely in October 2020, with strict healthcare regulations in place throughout the shoot. Commenting on the team’s turbulent workflow, producer Ruth Treacy said: “I think that preparation and a clearcut plan which has contingencies built into it, was the key to the film’s success. [...] In a strange way, the additional prep that was required actually helped the shoot run much more efficiently. Everyone was well briefed on the new challenges that would be at play once we began filming, and so everyone massively committed to being prepared for this in advance. Communication between production and crew worked really well and there was a really good collaborative team atmosphere as a result.”

Let the Wrong One In is being produced by Ruth Treacy and Julianne Forde for Tailored Films alongside Trisha Flood and Michael Lavelle for Workshed Films, with funding provided by Screen Ireland, MPI Media Group, RTE and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The film is slated for release in early 2022. MPI Media Group is also in charge of its world sales.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy