Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026
The Incomer
Louis Paxton
Genre: Comedy, Dark Comedy, Drama, Dramady, Film, Fringe Film
Venue: EIFF @ Filmhouse
Festival: Edinburgh International Film Festival
Low Down
Inspired by folk stories, an awkward man goes to funny extremes, on a Scottish remote island.
Review
It’s the recipe for comedic success. Protagonist Daniel, goes on a journey and encounters two fools. Isla (Gayle Rankin) who is more switched on, serious and hard to crack, the other, Sandy (Grant O’Rourke) a bumbling playful dope. The dynamic trio invite for a great arc of character exploration, while pushing each other to their opposing extremes.
Daniel played by Domhnall Gleeson, is a nerdy Scottish council worker, trying to survive in a job that makes him depressed. His boss (Michelle Gomez) condescendingly sends him on his way up to a remote Scottish island. He is tasked by clearing off the two individuals that inhabit the island. Gawky and nervous, Daniel has never done an in person- forced evacuation.
When he arrives, the brother and sister duo that roam the island are ready. They have been preparing for this moment, the moment an ‘incomer’ arrives. They have beaten up sandbags hanging, with ‘incomer’ written on it. They have clubs and bats. And of course they have apparel. They dress like birds.
They go to attack the feart Daniel, who manages to convince them he is a wizard by playing electronic music on his phone. Its clear to Daniel that these two have never been off the island- so outsmarting them with mainland technology is easy. Eventually the two make peace with Daniel and a wonderful friendship is born. They begin to learn from each other. The islanders learn that the mainland isn’t so scary and are told stories of lord of the rings, in which Daniel takes credit and adapts to a personalized version of his life. Daniel learns from the Islanders how to live unconventionally and free, as well as how to ‘fly’.
The islanders tell Daniel that they have inhabited the islander for 30 years when their parents brought them over from the mainland as children. They call themselves ‘the Gulls,’ which they use to honour the seagulls of the island. Their father sadly ‘gave himself’ to the sea years ago, in an island tradition. A deal made with ‘the Finmen‘ in order to allow the islanders to continue to live safely on the island. Daniel tries to convince the islanders to return with him to the mainland, but the more Daniel grows closer with the duo, he learns why they want to stay. The film shows great respect for islanders, with it being inspired by the writer/director’s (Louis Paxton), Orcadian heritage. It makes a case that mainland and the islands are both desirable places to live.
Paxton takes us on an unpredictable ride, paired with absurd humor. Its clear of it’s influences to ‘Hunt of The Wilderpeople’ & ‘Step Brothers.’ If you’re looking for a fun, light hearted, easy watch then you’ll get just that with this film. The cast are quick witted and bounce off each other effortlessly. Domhnall Gleeson has an impeccable Scottish accent and gives a strong performance along with Rankin and O’Rouke. A film highly worth invading.
