Citadel is a 2012 Irish psychological “hoodie horror” film written and directed by Ciaran Foy, in his feature film debut.
Tommy Cowley (Aneurin Barnard, IRONCLAD) lives a quiet life in a decaying apartment complex with his very pregnant wife. The couple is attacked one day by a group of hooded young thugs, and after a shocking act of violence, Tommy is left to raise his newborn daughter alone – forever traumatised by the attack…But when the same hooded gang return to terrorise Tommy again, he's torn between his paralyzing fear and protective parental instinct.
With the help of a vigilante priest (James Cosmo, BRAVEHEART) who has uncovered the genesis of this ruthless, potentially supernatural gang, Tommy must overcome his fears and venture into the heart of the abandoned tower block known as the ‘Citadel’ to save his family.
Special Features
- Interviews and Trailer
- Making Of
Awards
- BAFTA Awards 2012 – Nominated BAFTA Scotland Award Best Feature Film
- Chicago International Film Festival 2012 – Nominated Gold Hugo After Dark Competition
- Galway Film Fleadh 2012 – WonBest First Irish Feature
- Irish Film and Television Awards 2013 – Nominated Best Director of Photography, Nominated Rising Star Award Ciaran Foy (director)
- Neuchâtel International Fantasy Film Festival 2012 – Won Narcisse Award Best Fantastic Feature Film, Won Silver Méliès Award for Best European Fantastic Feature Film, Won Special Mention Mad Movies Jury
- Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival 2012 – Won Best Actor Aneurin Barnard, Won Best Director, Nominated for Best of Puchon
- SXSW Film Festival 2012 – Won Audience Award
Reviews
“Ciaran Foy's "Citadel” is a horrifying thriller painted on a small and very dark canvas…This is a basic story, simply and directly told by Irish writer-director Ciaran Foy. He doesn't try to explain too much, he doesn't depend on special effects and stays just this side of the unbelievable. As Tommy, Aneurin Barnard is very effective. He trembles and sweats with fear, he would seem paranoid if it didn't seem the “demons” weren't really there, and if they hadn't really killed his wife…" Roger Ebert
“Despite its defiantly un-PC ‘fear-a-hoodie’ message, the film nails its urban setting, filling every frame with a richly sustained sense of despair, decay and dread.” Time Out
“Writer-director Ciaran Foy skillfully taps into primal fears and urban paranoia to keep his audience consistently unsettled in “Citadel,” an intensely suspenseful horror-thriller..Pic will be especially nerve-wracking for any parent who’s ever doubted whether he or she could overcome immobilizing fear and spring into action to defend an endangered offspring. Foy exploits that cruel doubt with ruthless efficiency in this impressive debut feature.” Variety
“A lean and mean horror set in a shattered city that is both all-to-recognisable as broken Britain while also feeling totally alien.” SKY Movies
“Writer/director Foy pulse-pounding debut is set amidst snow-swept, urban wasteland environs, successfully isolating his protagonists such that terror – ours and his – is felt during both daylight and darkest night. As a gruff priest and sympathetic nurse, James Cosmo and Wunmi Mosaku respectively offer able support, but it’s Barnard and Foy’s show all the way – the director and star ably work in tandem, creating an oppressive atmosphere of tension and despair. Having already racked up multiple audience awards during its brief festival run, this is a bold new voice in horror that I’ll be rooting for and that you will be hearing about.” Horror101
“A bare-bones man-against-his-worst-fears white knuckler, shot through deep, menacing shadows.” AV Club
“Consistently well-performed by the whole cast (Wunmi Musaku as the kindhearted nurse is also a highlight), backed by a fine score, and effectively presented with bleak, gloomy exteriors and dark, sharp shadows, Citadel employs simple and effective horror tropes in service of a film that has something a little bit angry to say about crime in low-income neighborhoods, but says it in a frank and starkly entertaining fashion.” FEARnet