“Jan-Ole Gerster’s Islands is a wonderfully mysterious and twisting thriller with superb performances from Sam Riley and Stacy Martin.”
The German director Jan-Ole Gerster returns to the director’s chair for the first time since 2019’s Lara with his new movie, Islands. The film is a twisting drama-thriller, written by Jan-Ole Gerster, Blaž Kutin and Lawrie Doran. Featuring a cast which includes Sam Riley, Stacy Martin and Jack Farthing, the movie is set exclusively on the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. The red herrings come thick and fast throughout, leading to a hardly-ending guessing game. But does the film deserve to have its time in the sun, or should it have stayed put in the Canaries?
PREMISE
Islands tells the story of Tom, a one-time tennis pro who, years ago, washed up on the holiday island of Fuerteventura. Now he’s the coach at a hotel resort, hitting countless balls over the net to tourists. These tourists come to escape their everyday lives. Living an endless summer, Tom fills the emptiness inside with booze and brief affairs. He’s still kidding himself that he’s in paradise. However, it is beginning to dawn on him that he’s wound up in hell. The arrival of the Maguire family pulls Tom out of his normal routine. Consequently, he strikes up a relationship with Anne, her husband Dave and their son Anton. Tom is unable to shake the feeling that he has met Anne before. This tension grows between them until one night, Dave goes missing. The police investigation points to both Anne and Tom as suspects.
THOUGHTS
Although the film takes place on a beautiful, sunny island, it has some darker clouds looming over it, plot-wise. The twists and turns that permeate the screenplay never allow us to feel sure about anyone or anything. It keeps us constantly on our toes as a good mystery thriller should. Is one of the principals a cold-blooded killer? Are their motivations fuelled by alcohol? Who is really playing who, and if so, what for? The mystery comes at us thick and fast here, keeping us second-guessing the characters and even ourselves. It all adds up to a delightful film that captivates throughout.
SAM RILEY
Sam Riley plays Tom, the washed-up, alcoholic former tennis pro. Tom thinks he is living his dream life, but instead, he is really in his own private hell, one of his own making. When the Maguires arrive at the resort, Tom can’t help but stare at Anne (Stacy Martin). When she approaches him to give her son tennis lessons, it sets the events in motion. At times, we want to scream at Tom, to tell him to get his act together and to man up. At others, we feel the whole family, especially Anne, are manipulating him. We even hate him at times when he verbally abuses the hotel receptionist, Maria (a wonderful Bruna Cusí). Throughout the film, Sam Riley is never anything less than engaging. His performance, while feeling downbeat at times, is anything but. It is a quality performance from a fine actor.
STACY MARTIN
Stacy Martin plays Anne. When we first meet her, we can’t help but feel sorry for her. She appears to be a downtrodden wife, constantly put down or belittled by her husband, Dave (Jack Farthing). As things and events unfold, and we get to know her a bit better, our attitude towards her begins to change. Is she really downtrodden, or is she giving that appearance to throw people off of her scent? Does she know more than she is letting on, or is she as innocent as she seems? Is she playing Tom, or is she genuine? These questions keep entering our minds as events slowly unfold. Stacy Martin gives a heartfelt, warm, and engaging performance as Anne. Her demeanour keeps us guessing until the very end. And it is a toss of the coin if we really like her or not when the truth is revealed.
JACK FARTHING
Jack Farthing plays Dave, Anne’s husband. From almost the very second we meet him, we dislike him. No matter what happens, we will not shake that notion. Dave is the kind of man who thinks nothing of embarrassing his wife, belittling her in front of Tom. Even when he comes across as charming and friendly, we get the feeling that it’s all just an act. When he goes out for a drink with Tom at a local nightclub, he can’t help but be a braggart, to play the big man. And he proves he isn’t adverse to cheating on his wife if the chance presents itself. Dave is totally unlikable, and that is all thanks to the excellent way Jack Farthing plays him. Even when he plays the loving and doting father to his son, Anton (an outstanding performance from young Dylan Torrell), we feel it’s still all an act.
DIRECTION
Jan-Ole Gerster’s direction is outstanding. He takes every step he can to make the film look as good as it does. He perfectly captures the beauty of Corralejo and Pájara on the isle of Fuerteventura, making it look like paradise on earth. His colour palette comes into full effect here, giving us stunning visuals throughout. He directs the plot and his actors magnificently, drawing out exemplary performances from each, no matter how small their role is. The film looks and feels stunning, and that is all thanks to Gerster’s wonderful directing.
SCREENPLAY
The screenplay by Jan-Ole Gerster, Blaž Kutin, and Lawrie Doran has us guessing throughout. We can never be entirely sure of anyone or anything. Almost everyone, except Anton, could have a huge secret to hide. The twists and turns of the plot leave us feeling unsure about what is going on, or about any of the characters we meet along the way. Anyone could be guilty of anything at any time. The rich characterisation that each character has cannot be overlooked; each has its own unique traits that the script effortlessly draws out from them. It may not be a 100% original concept on show, but it is written so stylishly that we overlook it without batting an eyelid.
VERDICT
Jan-Ole Gerster’s Islands is a wonderfully mysterious and twisting thriller with superb performances from Sam Riley and Stacy Martin. Throw in the despicable and slimy nature of Jack Farthing’s character of Dave, and we have a film that is not only beautiful to look at, but also beautifully acted, directed and created. It is a joy to behold, seeing a movie like this being made and released. I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it: These kind of movies, smaller in stature and budget, put Hollywood and their big-budget churnouts to shame. They are much more rewarding, engaging and enjoyable. Instead of churning out multiplex fodder that you expect to make hundreds of millions or even billions with, they could learn a thing or two from movies of this kind.
Considering this is a German film with English dialogue, it proves that we can be equally as impressed with a low-budget, well-directed, created and acted film as we would be with an epic CGI blockbuster. It demonstrates that small, independent movies, such as this, should have an equal footing in the marketplace and at local multiplexes. Pack your sunglasses, grab the suncream, order a cold, refreshing beverage, and take your place on Jan-Ole Gerster’s Islands. It may not be an entirely comfortable stay. But it is a wonderfully entertaining and rewarding one.
Islands will be in cinemas from Friday, September 12th, courtesy of BFI Distribution.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
