The Incomer review: One of the funniest films of the year
The Incomer received strong reviews at film festivals earlier this year, so my expectations were high, and I’m thrilled to report that this hilarious, wholly original film doesn’t disappoint.
The film is set on Auk Isle, a remote island in Scotland where siblings Isla (Gayle Rankin) and Sandy (Grant O’Rourke) have lived alone for the past 30 years, since their parents disappeared. They were taught that they had to defend their home from dangerous “incomers” (outsiders), so they immediately launch an offensive when council worker Daniel (Domhnall Gleeson) arrives on the island to evict them and relocate them to the mainland.
I cannot overstate how funny this is. How you respond will depend on your sense of humour because its comedic style is very specific, quirky and absurd and will sometimes make you think ‘WTF’. Some people may find it too bizarre, but if you’re dialled in and on its wavelength, you will be absolutely charmed by it. I had a permanent smile on my face and laughed out loud constantly.
The comedy is stronger in the first act because you’re discovering these unusual character dynamics with the siblings before throwing another person in the mix. They deem Daniel to be a threat and want to kill him, until they realise he’s a nice person who could be their friend (or more). It’s a delight watching them get to know each other, with Daniel learning the rituals of the isle and the siblings learning mainland concepts like the internet and avocados. They don’t know any different from their lonely, difficult existence on the island and start to realise what they’re missing out on.
Eventually, as the trio gets to know each other better, the film becomes more touching and heartfelt. The siblings finally have the opportunity to decide what lifestyle they want and fight each other for Daniel’s company and attention. He doesn’t want to evict them, so reinforcements from the council soon arrive to back him up, causing chaos. The comedy doesn’t exactly disappear (it’s still rather funny), but it’s not wall-to-wall jokes at this point.
Gleeson is the most recognisable person in the cast, and he is dependably funny as ever. His Scottish accent takes some getting used to, but he does a decent job. However, he is outshone by these larger-than-life oddballs. Isla is a headstrong, aggressive hunter-gatherer who has become Sandy’s mother figure by default. They’re both suffering from arrested development, but Sandy is particularly childlike. O’Rourke was my favourite and the source of most of my laughs. His dialogue and line deliveries are hilarious, and a montage of him pointing out the island’s landmarks cracked me up. I should also mention that John Hannah has an absurd, unrecognisable role as a mythical sea creature!
With The Incomer, writer-director Louis Paxton has come up with a brilliant concept and three characters who are all wonderfully weird in their own right. One of the funniest films of the year. Don’t miss it!
In cinemas from Friday 4th September