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Jon Wright
Jon Wright
Jon Wright
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Jon Wright is a Northern Irish television and film director and screenwriter.[1]

Key Information

Career

[edit]

Wright is known for directing the British low budget horror comedy Tormented starring Alex Pettyfer and the Irish monster movie Grabbers. He directed and co-wrote the science fiction adventure film Robot Overlords starring Ben Kingsley. The estimated budget was $21 million.[2][3] The film began principal photography in Wales, the Isle of Man[4] and Northern Ireland.[5][6]

Wright has also directed multiple episodes of television, for series such as Our Girl, The Good Karma Hospital and Brassic.

Returning with Mark Stay, Wright co-wrote and directed Unwelcome, a fantasy horror film, released in January 2023.[7] Wright was inspired by the Grimm fairytales and stories from his own Irish grandfather. Wright described it as a "home invasion movie" and pitched it as "Gremlins meets Straw Dogs". The film uses many of the same production members as his previous film Grabbers.[8] Unwelcome was released in Ireland and the United Kingdom on 27 January 2023, in the United States on 10 March 2023, and on digital on 14 March 2023 by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was previously scheduled for 4 February 2022, before being moved up to 28 October 2022, then to its current release date.[9]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Jon Wright

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Jon Wright (born 2 March 1971) is a Northern Irish filmmaker and , recognized for his contributions to horror, , and genres. Best known for directing the creature-feature horror-comedy Grabbers (2012), which depicts an in a remote Irish community, Wright has built a career blending genre elements with and modern storytelling. His subsequent works include the adventure Robot Overlords (2014), featuring as an alien overlord in a dystopian world, and the film Unwelcome (2022), which explores themes of rural isolation and mythical creatures through the lens of a couple's . Raised in during , Wright relocated to and later , shaping his perspective on conflict and displacement, which subtly informs his narratives. After studying Film and English Literature at the , he began in , directing commercials and before transitioning to features with his debut Tormented (), a gory teen horror-comedy. In television, Wright has helmed episodes of series such as (2019), (2017), and most recently, two installments of the American sci-fi show The Wayfinders in 2025. His style often emphasizes practical effects, ensemble casts, and a mix of humor and tension, earning praise for revitalizing low-budget genre filmmaking.

Early life and education

Upbringing

Jon Wright was born on March 2, 1971, in , . His family held both English and Irish passports, reflecting their dual heritage amid the escalating political tensions of the era. The socio-political unrest known as prompted Wright's family to relocate from first to , , and later to during the 1970s, seeking safety from the violence that plagued . These moves shaped his early years, exposing him to diverse environments and cultural shifts as a child navigating instability. Wright's interest in filmmaking emerged early, inspired at age 11 by watching , which convinced him to pursue directing. By age 12, he had created his first short film, a horror slasher that even traumatized his mother with its death scene. Family travels, including visits to his Irish grandfather's remote farmhouse, further influenced him through exposure to traditional tales of fairies and creatures, fostering a lasting affinity for genre storytelling rooted in cultural myths.

Academic background

Jon Wright attended the , where he studied Film and English Literature. During his university years, Wright honed his directing and storytelling skills through practical projects, including shooting short films during term time and editing them during holidays using facilities at Saatchi & Saatchi's video department, where he worked as a runner. These hands-on experiences allowed him to develop narrative techniques and technical proficiency in , building on his earlier childhood interest in creating short films as a precursor to formal training. His academic focus on English Literature influenced his approach to screenplay writing, particularly in incorporating elements of and fable into his work; for instance, one of his student short films, The Librarian’s Dream, drew on Faustian literary themes to explore moral dilemmas through visual . This blend of film production and literary analysis prepared him for a career emphasizing character-driven narratives in genre films, facilitating a smooth transition from academia to professional directing upon graduation.

Career

Early professional work

After graduating from the , Wright began his professional career in the advertising industry, starting as a runner and advancing to an editor at Saatchi & Saatchi's video facilities company. During this period, he honed his technical skills in editing by working on short films he shot during university terms, editing them over holidays at the agency's facilities. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Wright transitioned into directing pop promos, commercials, and corporate videos, collaborating with crews from other projects to produce work that improved in quality each year. Notable examples include directing advertisements for clients such as and the Irish government, as well as composing music for ads featuring brands like and using early computer-based production methods. A key milestone came with his short film The Librarian’s Dream (2001), a Faustian fable about a deaf tempted by the , which he directed and which won the Talent Competition, leading to screenings at festivals worldwide and global broadcast sales. During this phase, Wright also co-wrote the horror feature script The Door, which was optioned by Wellington Films but remained unproduced. These early endeavors solidified his expertise in , production, and fundamentals before pursuing larger narrative projects.

Feature film directing

Jon Wright's feature film directing career began with low-budget genre films that blend horror and , evolving into more ambitious productions incorporating and elements. His debut, Tormented (2009), marked his transition from shorts and commercials to theatrical features, building on earlier award-winning short films that showcased his knack for tense, humorous storytelling. Tormented is a British horror comedy about a bullied teenager, Darren Mullet (played by Alex Pettyfer), who returns from suicide as a vengeful zombie to exact gory revenge on his high school tormentors. The film, written by Stephen Prentice and produced on a modest budget by a team including Cavan Ash and Tracy Brimm, emphasizes inventive kills and teen satire amid production constraints typical of independent UK horror, such as limited locations and practical effects reliant on makeup and prosthetics. Shot primarily in London schools to capture authentic British youth culture, it premiered at the London FrightFest Film Festival, highlighting Wright's ability to deliver energetic pacing despite resource limitations. In 2012, Wright directed Grabbers, an Irish-UK co-production that mixes monster horror with comedy, centering on a remote battling tentacled alien creatures whose attacks can be repelled by high blood alcohol levels. Written by Kevin Lehane and produced by Tracy Brimm, Kate Myers, and Piers Tempest, the film was shot on location in , , leveraging the region's rugged coastlines for atmospheric tension and humorous survival antics. This humor-horror hybrid, evoking classics like Tremors, underscores themes of resilience and absurdity in crisis, with practical creature effects enhancing its creature-feature appeal. Wright expanded into science fiction with (2014), which he co-wrote with Mark Stay and directed as a family-oriented adventure about children resisting robotic overlords on a conquered . Starring and , the $21 million production was filmed across , the Isle of Man, and , utilizing green-screen and CGI for its robot invaders while emphasizing practical sets for grounded action sequences. Produced by Piers Tempest, it balances escapist thrills with themes of rebellion and human ingenuity, achieving visual scale through efficient VFX workflows suited to its mid-range budget. His most recent feature, Unwelcome (2023), co-written with Mark Stay, is a film drawing from Grimm fairytales and , where a couple ( and ) faces murderous in their new rural home, pitched as "Gremlins meets Straw Dogs." Produced with a focus on creature design inspired by , it was shot in Ireland to immerse viewers in eerie woodlands and isolated farmhouses, exploring themes of , protective violence, and cultural displacement. The narrative blends dark humor, psychological tension, and gore, critiquing toxic masculinity through its goblin antagonists as symbols of unchecked aggression. Across his films, Wright consistently mixes horror, sci-fi, and for escapist entertainment, often using tropes to comment on like , , and , while prioritizing practical effects and to heighten immersion.

Television directing

Jon Wright transitioned to television directing in the mid-2010s, bringing his experience in genre-blending feature films to episodic formats that demanded efficient storytelling within tighter production schedules and ongoing series narratives. His work often involves directing clusters of episodes toward the end of seasons, allowing him to shape climactic arcs while adapting to the collaborative nature of TV, including multiple directors per series and serialized character development. In 2017, Wright directed episodes 3 and 4 of the third season of the military drama , starring and focusing on the challenges faced by British soldiers in conflict zones. He emphasized action sequences that balanced high-stakes tension with intimate character moments, drawing on his film background to choreograph realistic combat scenes amid the series' exploration of duty and resilience. That same year, he helmed episodes 5 and 6 of the first season of ITV's , a set in rural featuring and . Wright's direction highlighted emotional depth in patient stories and interpersonal conflicts, leveraging on-location shooting in to capture authentic cultural and environmental textures. Wright continued with comedy-drama in Brassic, directing episodes 4, 5, and 6 of the debut season in 2019 and episodes 4, 5, and 6 of the second season in 2020 for Sky Max. The series, created by Danny Brocklehurst and starring Joe Gilgun and Michelle Keegan, portrays working-class life in Northern England through schemes and friendships, where Wright focused on capturing humor through ensemble dynamics and quick-paced banter. In 2023, he directed episodes 5 and 6 of the second season of Channel 5 and AMC's Dalgliesh, a period murder mystery adaptation of P.D. James' The Murder Room, emphasizing atmospheric tension and investigative pacing. Most recently, in 2025, Wright directed two episodes of the American sci-fi adventure series The Wayfinders for , blending elements of fantasy and coming-of-age drama as high schoolers navigate a medieval world. This project marked his expansion into U.S. television, applying his film-honed integration to the show's otherworldly settings while adhering to episodic constraints like rapid character introductions and resolutions.

Recognition

Festival awards

Jon Wright's early short film The Librarian's Dream (2001), a Faustian tale about a deaf librarian tempted by the devil, won the BBC Talent Competition and was subsequently screened at various international film festivals. His feature directorial debut, Tormented (2009), received a nomination for the Narcisse Award for Best Feature Film at the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival. Wright's breakthrough horror-comedy (2012) garnered multiple festival honors, particularly in the genre circuit. At the International Fantastic , it won the Titra and the Audience Award, while also earning a nomination for the Narcisse Award for Best Fantastic . The film additionally received the Festival Prize at the Strasbourg European Fantastic . was selected for the , where it premiered to positive audience response, further establishing Wright's reputation in fantastic cinema. At the 13th FrightFest in , it was awarded the Best Monsters (Non-human) prize.

Critical reception

Jon Wright's debut feature (2012) received positive critical reception for its inventive blend of horror and , earning a 68% approval rating on based on 31 reviews. Critics praised its witty monster comedy, with Buckwalter of highlighting the film's "gleeful mischief" reminiscent of genre classics, while RadioTimes lauded the "ambitious mix of mirth and menace" set against an engaging Irish coastal backdrop. Cine-Vue further commended the "boisterous, boozy hybrid" for its offbeat entertainment value, positioning it among notable horror-comedy efforts. In contrast, (2014) garnered a mixed response, holding a 61% score from 18 reviews. Reviewers appreciated its sci-fi adventure and efficient use of limited resources, as noted by WhatsOnTV for delivering a "lively action... from sci-fi romp," but critiqued its pacing and effects, with Screen Daily observing that the film "moves at a nice pace but eventually gets rather let down by effects efforts." acknowledged the "jaunty banter" but pointed to a lack of surprises, underscoring uneven momentum in the narrative. Unwelcome (2023) achieved acclaim for its genre fusion, securing a 67% approval rating on from 48 reviews. Critics highlighted its successful blending of horror with social commentary on rural isolation, as in the review by Meagan Navarro, which described Wright's style as evoking a "Grimm fairytale" through a lush Irish backdrop to explore themes like fragile and colonialism's lingering effects. Screen Zealots praised how it "turns the idyllic dream of life in the Irish countryside upside down with a wicked take on local ," emphasizing the film's commentary on isolation. North Shore Movies captured this by likening it to a pub tale that leaves audiences "looking over their shoulders on the way home," reinforcing the rural dread. Across his filmography, Wright has been assessed as a specialist in horror-comedy hybrids, drawing influences from films like , as he has cited in interviews for projects including Unwelcome and earlier works. His productions, often on low-to-mid budgets up to £7 million, consistently emphasize genre innovation within constraints. Audience feedback echoes this reputation, frequently commending the escapist elements and humor in Wright's films; for instance, Rotten Tomatoes user reviews for Grabbers describe it as a "really funny subversive 'scary' movie" full of fun, while those for Unwelcome call it "underrated... a little dark, a little twisted, a lot hilarious," appreciating the lighthearted relief in his economical genre outings.

References

  1. https://elcinema.com/en/person/2080870/
  2. https://www.jonwright.info/about/
  3. https://horrorobsessive.com/2023/03/17/unwelcome-an-interview-with-director-jon-wright/
  4. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1229323/
  5. https://www.cbr.com/unwelcome-director-interview/
  6. https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/unwelcome-director-jon-wright-talks-irish-horror-goblins-and-hannah-john-kamen/
  7. https://www.filmbooster.com.au/creator/54773-jon-wright/
  8. https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2009/may/26/tormented-horror-film
  9. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10011243-tormented
  10. https://www.moriareviews.com/horror/tormented-2009.htm
  11. https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/tormented
  12. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/grabbers
  13. https://www.portpictures.ie/grabbers
  14. https://www.estudiosirlandeses.org/reviews/the-horror-stitches-conor-mcmahon-2012-grabbers-jon-wright-2012/
  15. https://www.fxguide.com/fxfeatured/big-effects-on-a-budget-the-making-of-robot-overlords/
  16. https://www.moviemarker.co.uk/robot-overlords/
  17. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/robot-overlords-london-review-746116/
  18. https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3688758/first-look-grabbers-directors-unwelcome-pits-couple-malevolent-goblins/
  19. https://www.jonwright.info/unwelcome/
  20. https://filmhounds.co.uk/2023/01/jon-wright-unwelcome-interview/
  21. https://www.letterboxd.com/director/jon-wright/
  22. https://www.jonwright.info/tv/
  23. https://thecinemaholic.com/the-wayfinders-season-2/
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1100053/awards/
  25. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1229323/awards/
  26. https://www.screenireland.ie/news-archive/view/1973
  27. https://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4285285&tpl=archnews&force=1
  28. https://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/07/19/203676083/sliced-diced-and-sometimes-served-up-fresh-three-horror-films-that-prove-a-point
  29. https://www.radiotimes.com/film/r549d/grabbers
  30. https://cine-vue.com/2012/12/film-review-grabbers.html
  31. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/robot_overlords
  32. http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/blog/movietalk/robot-overlords-film-review-lively-action-on-a-low-budget-from-family-friendly-sci-fi-romp
  33. http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-latest/robot-overlords/5078858.article
  34. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/robot-overlords-london-review-746116
  35. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/unwelcome_2022
  36. https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3753091/unwelcome-review-folk-horror-meets-home-invasion-in-irish-territory/
  37. https://screenzealots.com/2023/06/12/unwelcome/
  38. https://northshoremovies.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/10/review-unwelcome/
  39. https://atthemoviesonline.com/2023/03/10/interview-with-jon-wright-unwelcome/
  40. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-hidden-gem-young-couple-battles-nefarious-gnomes-jon-wrights-little-people-1299536/
  41. https://www.jonwright.info/hello/
  42. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/grabbers/reviews?type=user
  43. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/unwelcome_2022/reviews?type=user
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