Dark Lies the Island is a film adaptation of author Kevin Barry's short story collection of the same name. The dark drama is set in a small town in Ireland, where secrets, lies, and dysfunction run rampant. The film offers a cinematic glimpse into the underbelly of a small, insular society.
The story revolves around the dysfunctional members of the Mannion family, who are all struggling with their own personal demons. The father, Daddy Mannion, is a philandering and abusive alcoholic who has lost the respect of his wife and children. Son Martin is a failed boxer who spends his days drinking and dreaming of a different life. Daughter Sonny is a wayward teenager, struggling to find her place in the world. And youngest son, the hapless and naive Shane, can't seem to catch a break.
As the family struggles to come to grips with their dysfunction and inner demons, a series of interconnected events, including an affair, a murder plot, and a wealthy land developer's plans to exploit the town, threaten to tear them apart. Amidst the chaos, the family must come together to confront their demons and find a way to survive.
Dark Lies the Island is a poignant and often darkly humorous portrait of a family in crisis, grappling with issues of identity, love, and betrayal in a small town overshadowed by corruption and violence.