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Movie Poster

Grabbers

Tagline: "For the locals on Erin Island, it's last orders."

🎄 Holiday Cheer Breakdown 🎄

No specific holiday elements identified.

Director: Jon Wright

Release Year: 2012

Runtime: 94 min

Streaming Platforms: AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, Shudder, Shudder Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV Channel, IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel

Plot Summary: Something sinister has come to the shores of Erin Island, unbeknownst to the quaint population of this sleepy fishing village resting somewhere off Ireland’s coast. First, some fishermen go missing. Then there is the rash of whale carcasses suddenly washing up on the beach. When the murders start, it’s up to two mismatched cops – an irresponsible alcoholic and his new partner, a by-the-book woman from the mainland – to protect the townsfolk from the giant, bloodsucking, tentacled aliens that prey upon them. Their only weapon, they discover, is booze. If they want to survive the creatures’ onslaught, everyone will have to get very, very drunk!

Holidays:

Ciarán O'Shea (Richard Coyle), an alcoholic Garda is assigned to a new partner, Lisa Nolan (Ruth Bradley), a workaholic. His resentment only grew when Nolan, seeking to impress her superiors, volunteering for temporary duty at a remote Irish island.
After discovering mutilated whale corpses, the quiet community slowly comes to realise that they're under attack by bloodsucking tentacled aliens creatures which they dub "Grabbers".
Paddy (Lalor Roddy), the town drunk, inexplicably survives an attack. Local marine ecologist, Dr. Smith (Russell Tovey), theorizes that his high blood alcohol content proved toxic to the Grabbers, which survive on blood and water.
O'Shea contacts the mainland, but an oncoming storm prevents any escape or help. The group also realizes rising water levels will allow the remaining large male Grabber to invade the island. To prevent panic and chaos, Nolan and O'Shea organize a party at the local pub, intending to keep the island's residents safe but unaware of the danger. Brian Maher (David Pearse), the pub owner, offers free drinks, attracting locals to the party. While people get drunk, O'Shea volunteers to stay sober to coordinate the town's defenses.
In a squad car outside, a drunken Nolan reveals to O'Shea that she has come to the island to escape the shadow of her more-favoured sister. She also admits having feelings for O'Shea despite turning down his advances earlier.
When the large grabber arrives, a drunken Smith leaves the pub to get a picture, believing his inebriated state will protect him. However, the monster throws him into the air and kills him. Nolan and O'Shea escape to the pub, where they try to protect the townspeople. While trying to reassure people, Nolan drunkenly reveals the danger they are in. The panicked islanders retreat to the second level of the pub, and baby grabbers take over the first floor. Nolan accidentally sets the pub on fire while trying to sneak out, but she and O'Shea manage to draw the attention of the adult grabber.
O'Shea and Nolan drive to a construction site, pursued by the creature. They plan to strand the monster on dry land, depriving it of water. Before they can successfully set a trap, the monster attacks O'Shea, injuring him. Nolan uses the heavy construction equipment pinning the creature at the base of a pit. It grabs O'Shea, but he dumps a bottle of Paddy's poitín into its mouth, sickening it and causing it to release him. Nolan ignites nearby explosives with a flare gun, killing the Grabber.
As the storm clears up, O'Shea throws away his flask, and the two return to town. Unknown to anyone, more Grabber eggs buried on the beach are about to hatch.

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