THE INCOMER
Filmmaker Louis Paxton‘s laugh-out-loud film THE INCOMER has arrived to capture your heart. The story follows two siblings who have never left their isolated Scottish isle. When they discover a lowly land recovery coordinator, they take him for an invader. Sandy and Isla have been raised on fear-mongering folklore, making their reality incredibly fragile. Daniel immediately recognizes the danger (and potential madness) and attempts to distract them with his mainland knowledge and technology while waiting for rescue.
Relationships are tested, as Sandy instantly becomes enamored with Daniel, but Isla is suspicious of every word. Meanwhile, on the mainland, when Roz cannot reach Daniel, she sends in her most unhinged employee to finish the job.
The dialogue is like watching toddlers argue, and it is relentlessly hilarious. Daniel slowly realizes that his awkwardness is the key to connecting to this whimsical duo. Gleeson’s manipulation of The Lord of the Rings is chef’s kiss.
As the trio bond, Daniel comes out of his shell, Isla’s hardness softens, and Sandy feels left out. Things get increasingly complicated when Daniel’s hyper-aggressive coworker, Cal, becomes the latest Incomer, and the siblings each deal with their changing feelings in extreme ways. 
Performances absolutely rule. Michelle Gomez, John Hannah, and Emun Elliott are delightfully funny additions to this quirky cast. Grant O’Rourke plays Sandy as a lovable, childish oaf. Every bit of newness lights up his eyes. O’Rourke steals every scene he appears in. Gayle Rankin is a comedic goddess. Her fearless career choices run the gamut of creativity. Rankin gives Isla an infectious feral energy. Domhnall Gleeson exudes unassailable charm as Daniel, and somehow remains a Timelord, with his boyish good looks. His effortless slapstick comedy is a director’s dream. Together, they are magic. 
The animation during Isla’s stories is darling. The score is epic, swinging between jarring and jubilant. Costumes and production design are fantastic. The script is a joyous examination of human connection, patience, and open-mindedness. It wholeheartedly celebrates uniqueness, imagination, jumping into the unknown, and finding your people. The Incomer is undeniably one of the year’s best films.
THE INCOMER Trailer:
IN THEATERS: September 25, 2026
DIRECTOR: Louis Paxton
WRITER: Louis Paxton
CAST: Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin, Grant O’Rourke, Emun Elliott, Michelle Gomez, and John Hannah
SYNOPSIS: Sundance Award-winning comedy, The Incomer is a modern folk fairy tale set on a remote Scottish island, where two siblings survive by hunting seabirds, retelling the stories of their ancestors, and defending the isle from dreaded Incomers. Their world is upended with the arrival of an awkward council worker who has come to uproot them from their homeland on behalf of the government.
RUN TIME: 102 minutes
RATING: R
GENRE: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
DISTRIBUTOR: Sumerian Pictures
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