The Secret of Roan Inish

The Secret of Roan Inish has built a real following in Australia on Hoopla, and in the US on Starz Apple TV Channel and Hoopla among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Jeni Courtney sets the tone, and the world-building does the rest. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Hoopla.

The Secret of Roan Inish is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry The Secret of Roan Inish through its more ambitious moments. Ten-year-old Fiona is sent to live with her grandparents in a small fishing village in Donegal, Ireland. She soon learns the local legend that an ancestor of hers married a Selkie – a seal who can turn into a human. Years earlier, her baby brother was washed out to sea and never seen again, so when Fiona spies a naked little boy on the abandoned Isle of Roan Inish, she is compelled to investigate. The human element stays intact thanks to Jeni Courtney and Eileen Colgan, who anchor every scene. The Secret of Roan Inish came out in 1994. The rules of The Secret of Roan Inish's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

The Secret of Roan Inish is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Watch for Jeni Courtney in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.

The Secret of Roan Inish was released in 1994, directed by John Sayles. The full 103-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.