Tourism officials in Ireland are probably not championing Citadel. Almost oppressively dank and dreary, it’s an odd little chiller that features few speaking roles and a unique twist on the killer kids subgenre.

The opening scene is incredibly frightening and effectively sets the tone. A happy young couple, Tommy (Aneurin Barnard) and Joanne (Amy Shiels), is leaving their apartment building to head for the hospital so she can give birth to their first child. Tommy carries her bag to a taxi outside and then takes the elevator back up to the 11th floor. It’s an old, decrepit building and when he arrives the elevator door won’t open. He watches helplessly as hooded figures attack his wife. When he finds her she is bloodied and has a needle sticking out of her stomach.

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