The Acid House (1998)

Three twisted tales of abuse, drugs, displaced personalities and insect life by Scottish writer Irving Welsh.

Director:

Paul McGuigan

Writers:

Irvine Welsh (screenplay), Irvine Welsh (stories)

Stars:

Stephen McCole, Maurice Roëves, Garry Sweeney

6 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephen McCole	...	Boab (segment "The Granton Star Cause")
Maurice Roëves	...	God (segment "The Granton Star Cause") / Drunk (segment "A Soft Touch") / Priest (segment "The Acid House")
Garry Sweeney	...	Kev (segment "The Granton Star Cause")
Jenny McCrindle	...	Evelyn (segment "The Granton Star Cause")
Simon Weir	...	Tambo (segment "The Granton Star Cause")
Iain Andrew	...	Grant (segment "The Granton Star Cause")
Irvine Welsh	...	Parkie (segment "The Granton Star Cause")
Pat Stanton	...	Barman (segment "The Granton Star Cause")
Alex Howden	...	Boab Snr (segment "The Granton Star Cause")
Annie Louise Ross	...	Doreen (segment "The Granton Star Cause") (as Ann Louise Ross)
Dennis O'Connor	...	PC Cochrane (segment "The Granton Star Cause")
John Gardner	...	Sgt. Morrison (segment "The Granton Star Cause")
William Blair	...	Workmate ("The Granton Star Case") / Deck ("A Soft Touch")
Gary McCormack	...	Workmate (segment "The Granton Star Cause") / Larry (segment "A Soft Touch")
Malcolm Shields	...	Workmate (segment "The Granton Star Cause")

Storyline

Three twisted tales from the seamy side of Scotland and the mind of Irvine Welsh. The Granton Star Cause: in the same day a young Leith lad is dumped by his football team, his girlfriend and his parents, arrested and beaten up by the police and turned into a fly by God, whom he meets in a pub. The Soft Touch: a man is too soft to do anything when his wife moves in with the thug upstairs. The Acid House: while tripping on acid, Coco Bryce is struck by lightning, causing him to switch bodies with a newborn baby.

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Plot Keywords:

pub | football | insect | lightning | baby | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Film Four Zeitgeist Films

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 January 1999 (UK)

Also Known As:

Acid House

Filming Locations:

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$7,459 (USA) (6 August 1999)

Gross:

$142,783 (USA) (3 December 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Picture Palace North, Umbrella Productions Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was deemed deeply offensive by the UK tabloid press for its inclusion of a swearing, foul-mouthed God.

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Quotes

Rory: Awww, the wee Tom-Tom. Goo goo, ga ga.
Colin 'Coco' Bryce: Shut your fuckin' mouth, you, ya specky git.

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Connections

References Die Hard (1988)

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Soundtracks

"Hot Love"
Written by Marc Bolan
Performed by Marc Bolan with T-Rex

User Reviews

The darker side of Irvine Welsh

Irvine Welsh's follow up to Trainspotting hits the screen as three short stories set in Edinburgh, all with a few of Welsh's trade marks, drug culture, depression, the working class and Hibernian football club. Uneasy to watch in places, it is no less than very well written, 2 of the stories having a darkly comic twist to them while the 2nd story a serious (and shockingly realistic) plot to it. Will not appeal to most, including myself to a point, but will no doubt adopt a cult following.