New Irish Film 'Skintown' Rides Nostalgia and E to a Coming-of-Age High

Director Kieron J. Walsh just dropped a warm, chaotic love letter to '90s Northern Ireland that's got the vibe of "Kneecap" meets "Derry Girls" — but looser, weirder, more chemically enhanced. "Skintown" leans hard into that bittersweet nostalgia that hits different when you're rewatching your formative years through rose-tinted glasses (or whatever else you were on back then).

It's a coming-of-age story with actual teeth, set against the backdrop of Fermanagh and wired with that rave-culture energy that defined a generation trying to escape the weight of political conflict. The film doesn't shy away from the messiness — the drugs, the recklessness, the way young people used music and ecstasy as both escape hatch and rebellion.

What sets this apart is the balance: it's got heart without being saccharine, humor without punching down. Walsh treats his characters with real affection even when they're making terrible decisions. That's the sweet spot indie filmmaking hits when it actually trusts its audience to sit with complicated feelings.

If you're into character-driven stories that capture a specific time and place with authenticity and style, this one's worth the watch.

Read the full story at Variety → https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/skintown-review-1236839532/