Road to FrightFest Interview: ‘Haunted Ulster Live’ Director, Dominic O’Neill, shares the story behind his FrightFest First Blood feature [FrightFest 2023]

Pigeon Shrine FrightFest is less than a week away and excitement is beginning to mount for those attending. Whilst passholders are looking forward to five days of fright with like-minded people, those bringing their films are starting to feel the nerves. Of all the filmmakers, it is perhaps those tied to the First Blood strand that are feeling them the most. The programme celebrates the best new voices in horror and this year’s line-up is especially strong. The daylong festivities will come to an end with Dominic O’Neill’s Haunted Ulster Live. 

Perfectly placed in the late-night spot, Haunted Ulster Live is a loving homage, but not a carbon copy, of the brilliant Ghostwatch. The television show shocked a generation of BBC viewers with its presented ‘as live’ format. Along with The Blair Witch Project, Ghostwatch is often viewed as one of the pioneers of the found-footage genre and so it makes sense that it would inspire others. Its influences on Haunted Ulster Live are clear, but O’Neill uses the format as more of a jumping off point for his story. Against the backdrop of the Northern Ireland Troubles, TV veteran Gerry Burns (Mark Claney) teams up with popular children’s presenter Michelle Kelly (Aimee Richardson) to investigate poltergeist activity in a haunted house in Belfast. A seance soon causes the broadcast to descend into chaos.

The attention to detail given to make Haunted Ulster Live look and feel authentic to its Halloween night 1998 broadcast is incredible. O’Neill’s hard work leaves the viewer questioning if perhaps this could have been an Irish spin on Ghostwatch that just never made it across the pond. In addition to the intricacies, O’Neill’s film is a lot of fun. It has a knowing humour and never takes itself too seriously. It really is a superb choice to round off a day at FrightFest and we’re sure that this one has a rich history to come. Ahead of the World Premiere at FrightFest we spoke with O’Neill to find out more about reinventing history, the nostalgia of 90’s television, and ghost-hunting in real-life. 

You can find more out about the back story for Haunted Ulster Live here.

Haunted Ulster Live screens at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest on Saturday 26th August 2023. Tickets are still available here.