The Acid House

Released Jan 1, 1998

1 hr. 51 min.

Drama

List

45%

20 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

This anthology adapts three stores by Scottish cult author Irvine Welsh. Boab (Stephen McCole) is kicked off his football team and out of his parents' home, loses both his job and his girlfriend and finally meets God (Maurice Roëves) in a squalid pub. Nice guy Johnny (Kevin McKidd) marries pregnant near-stranger Catriona (Michelle Gomez), who starts a tawdry affair with their upstairs neighbor (Gary McCormack). On an acid trip, teen hooligan Coco (Ewen Bremner) trades bodies with a fetus.

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Critics Consensus

Narratively stagnant and stylistically oppressive, The Acid House proves to be a bad trip.

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Gareth v

This is full-blown Irvine Welsh on celluloid. Crass, vulgar, over the top. The three stories here are all unique and while far from perfect it's entertaining enough. Fantastic soundtrack as well.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the most f##ked up films ive seen lol it's 3 stories yeah deffo worth a watch if you wanna scramble ya brain up a bit 🤪🤯

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I think you need to be on drugs to understand what the film is all about.f--king stupid storyline about a man that turns in to a fly.I thought it was going to be about the Scottish 90s raves but I just got some fly eating pooh so I turned it off after 30 mins. Awful.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Post-trainspotting adaption of the Irvine Welsh book of the same name - 10 for effort, 2 for execution - book is much better

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is so crazy &out there you actually have to be on acid to probably enjoy/ understand this huge mess. A massive Z movie in my opinion.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Between The Acid House & Trainspotting, I can only conclude that Scotland is a terrible, terrible place.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

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Paul McGuigan

Director

Stephen McCole

Boab

Maurice Roëves

God

Garry Sweeney

Kev

Jenny McCrindle

Evelyn

Simon Weir

Tambo

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: D

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 25, 2003

Full Review

Edward Guthmann

San Francisco Chronicle

Rated: 3/4

Apr 3, 2001

Full Review

David Luty

Film Journal International

What the three stories do share are solid ideas all dressed up with nowhere to go.

Mar 1, 2007

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 2/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 26, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

This anthology adapts three stores by Scottish cult author Irvine Welsh. Boab (Stephen McCole) is kicked off his football team and out of his parents' home, loses both his job and his girlfriend and finally meets God (Maurice Roëves) in a squalid pub. Nice guy Johnny (Kevin McKidd) marries pregnant near-stranger Catriona (Michelle Gomez), who starts a tawdry affair with their upstairs neighbor (Gary McCormack). On an acid trip, teen hooligan Coco (Ewen Bremner) trades bodies with a fetus.

Director: Paul McGuigan
Screenwriter: Irvine Welsh
Distributor: Prodifilms, Senator Film, Mars Distribution, Asociace Ceskych Filmovych Klubu, Zeitgeist Films, GAGA Communications [jp], RCV Film Distribution
Production Co: Picture Palace North Limited [gb], Umbrella Productions Limited [gb]
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $142.8K
Sound Mix: Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)