Glee star headlines wild new Irish horror-comedy now in cinemas

The film was shot at Stradbally Hall in Laois.

As such, the now-in-theatres Irish horror-comedy The Restoration of Grayson Manor may get slightly lost in the mix. That said, if you're a fan of those genres, particularly when infused with an offbeat sensibility, you may get some pleasure out of the film.

The story follows Boyd (Glee's Chris Colfer, having fun), a young and gay hedonist. He is the sole heir of the wealthy Grayson family, which consists of just him and his cruel, formidable mother, Jacqueline (horror icon Alice Krige, Ghost Story).

Jacqueline doesn't approve of Boyd's lifestyle. She constantly chastises him for not settling down and marrying a woman to continue the family line.

When Boyd's hands are sliced off in a freak accident during a very well-staged, Final Destination-esque opening sequence, he stays in his mother's care at Grayson Manor. Joining them there are a team of doctors and nurses, hired by Jacqueline.

The goal of the medical professionals is to fit Boyd with a pair of experimental robot hands, which he could power with his subconscious. As the young man convalesces and works with the doctors and nurses, he starts to suspect something sinister is afoot in the house. Is it just residual trauma from his past and his recent injury, or is he right to be concerned?

Watch the trailer for The Restoration at Grayson Manor right here:

Written and directed by Irish filmmaker Glenn McQuaid (I Sell the Dead, V/H/S) and shot at Stradbally Hall in Laois, it becomes clear very soon in the movie that Boyd's suspicions are indeed correct. That's because this is a script that is not interested in subtlety at all.

Pretty quickly, there are killer robot hands, ghosts, murders, and a motley crew of pretty unlikeable characters. This isn't necessarily a problem in itself. Indeed, there is pleasure to be had in McQuaid smashing together various gothic tropes and genres and turning them up to 11. Plus, Krige is a blast vamping it up as the ruthless, cold-as-ice Grayson matriarch.

Eventually, though, the lack of a moral centre (you'd think Boyd would be sympathetic, but his constant above-it-all, spoiled attitude and his refusal to break free from his mother's influence make him a tough hang) and the consistently chaotic plot wear the viewer down. All in all, an interesting Irish horror curio.

The Restoration of Grayson Manor is in Irish cinemas now. Check out our sister publication Lovin's interview with Chris Colfer at the movie's Dublin International Film Festival premiere below: