Recxpectations: Islands

Islands is a film that I went in completely cold and I was pleasantly surprised by it. The synopsis is basically: A tennis pro at an island resort befriends a couple, only to have the husband disappear after an evening out partying.

EXPECT: UNDERCOOKED HITCHCOCK
At first I was going to call this movie a slow burn but, honestly, I don’t think it ever reaches “burn” status. The whole thing kind of smolders, which isn’t bad and is kind of an interesting and different choice in the genre’s current landscape that seems to be leaning to soapy melodrama. Everything about the film is subtle. For this reason, the drama and tension feels lacking at times. It’s a film that you’re intertwined with rather than gripped by. I really enjoyed it but I could see a lot of people being bored by the subtle smoldering approach.

EXPECT: SHOW, DON’T TELL
This film is kind of the polar opposite of the Knives Out franchise. You should not expect anything close to the Benoit Blanc final monologue in which he explains everything that is going on. This film is as slice of life as you can get in a kind of island noir. Most of the genre is overly crafted, every moment feels like a scene more than a real event. Islands just shows the moments unfold. It’s kind of like eavesdropping on a conversation as opposed to being told a story. That being said, the resolution is also as subtle so I could see some people wishing that there was a moment that spelled everything out.

DON’T EXPECT: SHOWY PERFORMANCES
The title refers to the characters as much as setting. Every character is repressed for their own reason - as a service worker or playing their role in a relationship. The writing doesn’t give much room to really perform but every actor plays their role perfectly. A nearby island has a volcano that is smoking and the characters are just the same; you know there’s something more ready to breakout but who knows if it will ever erupt.

DON’T EXPECT: A BREAKOUT HIT
While the approach to this film worked for me, it’s a classic indie film. There isn’t really anything here that will grab the attention of critics or awards voters or mainstream audiences. This is another example of why I wish companies would invest in Variations on a Theme because as much as I liked this version, I wouldn’t mind seeing what someone with a more commercial approach to things could have done with it.