There is something surreal about holidays, particularly resorts. They are spaces people are meant to inhabit, but only for a short time. The concept of visiting a resort or going on a cruise is appealing. The reality of being stuck there however, is a nightmare. They are also the perfect setting for Noirs and Whodunits. From The White Lotus to Murder She Wrote, the idea that something is afoot while on vacation has been a staple of the genre for decades. It makes sense though when one ponders on it for a moment. Noirs often deal with façades and hidden truths, and what greater façade than a holiday resort? Islands joins the lineage of sun-soaked Noirs that trade-in the stereotypical rain drenched streets for beaches and waves.
The film centres on Tom (nicknamed Ace) who spends his days at a resort in Fuerteventura teaching tennis and drinking himself blind. He seems mostly adrift in life, until he encounters the Maguire family: Anne, Dave, and their seven-year-old son, Anton. Initially Tom is simply teaching Anton tennis, but as he spends more and more time with the family, it quickly becomes apparent that Dave and Anne’s relationship is disintegrating. When Dave disappears, questions are raised, not only about what happened to him but also Anne’s relationship with Tom.
The film is excellently written. Whilst part of the Noir genre (the film was advertised at EIFF as Highsmith-Esque), it relies more on personal drama and dialogue than murder and mayhem. Tom is a well-drawn character who is depicted admirably by Sam Riley (Control, Maleficent). You really get a sense of the mundanity of Tom’s life. He is directionless and seemingly trapped in a paradisiacal purgatory — an eternal holiday with no real connections or roots. Riley also has great on-screen chemistry with Stacy Martin (All The Money In The World, The Brutalist). Martin portrays Anne, a character with whom the audience is never really sure where they stand, and offers a kind of mystique not seen in most other “femme fatales.” Another notable mention is Jack Farthing as the detestable Dave. He embodies a character both deeply unlikeable and exuding a depressing aura in every one of his scenes.
The film is also beautifully shot and well directed. Jan-Ole Gerster captures the allure of the Canary Islands, but also effectively crafts sequences that are filled with tension and black humour. I found certain moments to be reminiscent of The Talented Mr Ripley (1999). Both films deal with the idea of an eternal holiday gone wrong and the underlying tensions in the relationships of its main cast.
Islands differentiates itself from its predecessors through ambiguity, leaving it up to the audience to interpret the answers to some of its mysteries. Whilst a slow burn, the run time passed quickly with a well-paced plot keeping audience interest piqued. The film is a must see for fans of well plotted, character driven dramas — a true highlight of EIFF 2025.
The 78th Edinburgh International Film Festival ran from the 14th to 20th August 2025. Islands screened Out of Competition.
Press image provided by EIFF 2025 for press use.