Parents' Guide to Boys from County Hell

Movie NR 2021 88 minutes
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Common Sense Media Review

Alistair Lawrence By Alistair Lawrence , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Vampire horror-comedy has language, gory violence, drinking.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

BOYS FROM COUNTY HELL pits a quarreling crew of Northern Irish workmen against the chaos unleashed at a local vampire's grave site.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This spirited horror-comedy, that is as much a monster movie as it is a vampire flick, might not offer much new, but it has a good time doing it nonetheless. Boys from County Hell finds Jack Rowan cast as the feckless Eugene, who is tasked with saving the day as those around them lose their heads -- and various other body parts. While there might be more cliches than vampires at times, director and co-writer Chris Baugh still makes sure that the action moves along at pace, even if the majority of the humans' altercations with the undead take place in dimly lit fields and abandoned buildings that aren't especially good at drawing us in.

It's impossible to avoid comparisons with Shaun of the Dead, which delivered both more laughs and plot twists. But while Boys from County Hell can't compete with one of the kings of the horror-comedy genre, it does manage a neat snapshot of the kind of remote communities that both resent and rely upon myths and legends to attract visitors. Throw in some unexpected novelty deaths, along with a few chucklesome moments, and there's enough here to sink your fangs into.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Boys from County Hell. Did the blood and gore seem over the top? Did the comedic tone of the movie make the violent scenes less impactful? If so, why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?

  • Talk about the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? Was it needed to make the story more realistic?

  • Did you find the movie more scary or funny? How did it compare to other vampire movies you've seen?

  • How was drinking and drug use depicted in the movie? Were they glamorized? Did the characters need to do these things to look cool? What were the consequences?

Movie Details

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