Rent Citadel (2012)

Citadel review by Alyse Garner - Cinema Paradiso

Citadel is a Scottish/Irish film by first time director Ciaran Foy, about a man, Tommy, who is left to raise his son after the sudden death of his wife at the hands of a violent gang. As if this trauma wasn’t enough however Tommy also suffers from paralysing acrophobia and social anxiety.

After the death of his wife Tommy is hounded by the gang who put his wife in a coma, burglarized, repeatedly beaten and harassed he finally decides to put a stop to the gang’s terrorizing and free his local community.

Acting as both writer and director Foy, who was also violently beaten by a group of youths at aged eighteen, the film seems to be some kind of emotional release for Foy, through Tommy he explores the trauma of his attack and manages to dispel some of his personal demons along the way.

With all this said however, don’t expect Citadel to be much of an intellectual experience, it is undeniably a horror movie, yet the underlying social commentary gives the film enough weight to be taken seriously, the overall impression the film gives you is one of a dark but nonetheless raucous fun. Expect a mad Priest, demonic possessions, violence and Game of Thrones James Cosmo, Citadel is a well made, dark and original horror most genre fans will enjoy.