Rawhead Rex
A vacationing writer’s search for Irish legends turns into a desperate fight against an ancient pagan god unleashed upon a rural village.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- visceral
- foreboding
- late night horror marathon
- cult movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the adaptation faithful in premise but undermined by an ineffective monster design and a dull finale.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The plot centers on an ancient pagan god released from beneath an old column in the Irish countryside.
Rawhead Rex launches a crime spree through the rural village where Howard and his family are staying.
Howard Hallenbeck’s wife and children are endangered while the family is lodged near the unleashed monster.
The title creature is an evil pagan god whose release triggers a series of violent attacks.
Films like Rawhead Rex, and why
The Wicker Man
shared pagan monster horror, rural isolation, and escalating supernatural menace
The Company of Wolves
shared countryside setting, grotesque creature design, and visceral supernatural horror
Pumpkinhead
shared small-town monster terror, cult horror atmosphere, and darkly pulpy thrills
Movie Details
- Director
- George Pavlou
- Release Date
- 1986-10-01
- Runtime
- 89 min
- Rating
- 5.2 / 10 (149)
Cast
- David Dukes
- Niall Tóibín
- Cora Lunny
- Ronan Wilmot
- Donal McCann
- Heinrich von Schellendorf
- Kelly Piper
- Niall O'Brien
- Hugh O'Conor
- Eleanor Feely
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+, Shudder, Kino Film Collection
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Rawhead Rex about?
- A vacationing writer’s search for Irish legends turns into a desperate fight against an ancient pagan god unleashed upon a rural village.
- What is Rawhead Rex like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Rawhead Rex as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Rawhead Rex violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Rawhead Rex as graphic.
- What did critics think of Rawhead Rex?
- Critics broadly found the adaptation faithful in premise but undermined by an ineffective monster design and a dull finale.
- Which films are like Rawhead Rex?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wicker Man, The Company of Wolves, and Pumpkinhead.
- How long is Rawhead Rex?
- Rawhead Rex runs 89 minutes.
- Where can I watch Rawhead Rex?
- In United States, Rawhead Rex streams on AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+, Shudder, Kino Film Collection.
