Elena Walsh O Brien
SÁRÚ is a chilling folk horror short rooted in Irish mythology. When a young girl moves into a secluded house on the edge of an ancient forest, she discovers a mysterious fairy ring hidden within. Drawn by curiosity, she crosses a threshold never meant to be broken—unleashing the preternatural, as the forgotten rules of the old world claw their way back.
SÁRÚ is a folk-horror set in rural Ireland in 1981.
As children, it’s hard to believe our actions could have any real impact on the world around us - or on the people we love. But growing up brings the uncomfortable truth: our choices carry weight. SÁRÚ explores this sharp transition through the lens of Irish folklore.
The story unfolds like a cautionary tale a parent might whisper at bedtime: a warning wrapped in myth, shaped to keep us safe. The idea that our missteps will catch up with us keeps many on the straight and narrow. But what happens when you're too young to know better? When you've drawn the shortest straw and just want to be somewhere else - without realising that “anywhere else” might come at a cost?
At What Cost is a social-realist piece that follows a day in the life of a man named Elliot as he navigates Ireland's social welfare system. The film’s simplicity lends thematic weight, allowing its message to resonate more deeply with audiences. Editing the film provided an opportunity to explore themes such as family and mental illness, balancing them in a way that enhances the film’s relatability and emotional impact.
This thesis explores John Boorman’s 'Excalibur' (1981) as not only a unique
adaptation of Arthurian legend but also as a singular adaptation of myth itself. By
exploring how the film reconstructs myth through narrative choices, visual
storytelling, and its use of nostalgia it will demonstrate that Excalibur is an
unparalleled triumph in visual adaptation.
Elena Walsh O’Brien is a directing and editing major graduating from the National Film School at IADT. During her time at NFS, she wrote and directed three projects: Thinner Than Water (2023), Bad Beat (2024), and her graduate film SÁRÚ (2025). She also served as editor on another graduate film, At What Cost.
While her work spans a range of genres, a recurring theme across her projects is self-destruction. Elena believes that for a story to truly resonate, it must contain conflict - and as a writer, she sees inner conflict as central to the human experience. As a filmmaker, her focus lies in exploring how our environments shape the decisions we make, and the ripple effects those choices have on the world around us.
