When screenwriter and director Louis Paxton began working on his Sundance Film Festival feature debut of “The Incomer,” he did not shy away from the mythical. He leaned into it.
Mysterious and ominous Finn men that attempt to lure Scottish islanders into dark, murky waters; Scotts that are descended from gulls; Fighting off outsiders to maintain island heritage — It’s all part of the story of “The Incomer.”
In this case, the strange and slightly awkward outsider is a character named Daniel, played by Domhnall Gleeson, who is tasked with evicting siblings Isla and Sandy from their ancestral island off the Scottish mainland. But Isla and Sandy, played by Gayle Rankin and Grant O’Rourke, have no intention of leaving the home they have known for 30 years.
Riotously comedic drama ensues, featuring an eclectic mix of slapstick comedy, oddball fun, sibling tussles and deadpan deliveries. Behind it all is an ode to Scottish folklore and islander tales.
Paxton said some of the story came from what he knew growing up in Scotland.
“I grew up around these Neolithic structures and shipwrecks that were sort of half sticking out of the water, and all these tales of Finn men and selkies and things like that. It was just really evocative and a very romantic place to be,” Paxton said.
The way of life for islanders, Paxton said, was magical. But he said it’s easy to romanticize. In reality, fending for oneself on an island, living in a ramshackle home and fighting through a harsh environment is far from charming.
“I’m sure that parts of it were beautiful and stunning, being able to live off the land in that way, but it was really difficult. It was really, really hard work,” Paxton said.
Ultimately, that’s why many of the island communities ended up moving to larger parts of society, Paxton said.
But not Isla and Sandy. The film depicts the siblings killing and eating gulls for sustenance and telling tall tales for entertainment. They find solace in their own parts of the island. For Isla, it’s near the water. There, she engages in conversation with a somewhat-sinister Finn man (a man-seal hybrid) who would like nothing more than for Isla to join him in the deep. For Sandy, it’s another rocky shore. There, he has his thinking space and alone time.
The pair shun incomers who are, to the siblings, something to fear and fight off. As Daniel is dropped off on a rocky dock, Isla and Sandy don elaborate gull costumes with feathered and fringed wings and birdlike masks. They are ready for the fight.
Paxton said it’s the comedy of the situation that he wanted to highlight most. If not for the fun of it all, it could be a sad tale of islanders facing the prospect of losing their home. But that is not the case with “The Incomer.”
“I feel about humor that is how we cope with things that are very difficult,” Paxton said. “What interests me, I guess, are stories that are told that use humor to talk about things that are quite dark and potentially difficult situations.”
The siblings’ childlike personalities and perceptions of the world offered a balance that bridged hard, real-life problems with folklore and play.
“There’s a naivety to it and a kind of simplicity to it. But, at the same time, they’re adults and they’re really capable,” Paxton said.
Both Isla and Sandy are easily relatable — they want to stay in the home they know and love, and O’Rourke and Rankin manage to bring that to the screen. The same goes for Gleeson who, as Daniel, plays an outsider even on the mainland, whose affinity for wizards and magic pushes him to the outskirts of social groups.
It doesn’t get easier for Daniel when he arrives on the island, but soon the ice begins to thaw for the trio. The back-and-forth and easy conversation, Paxton said, is all thanks to the actors themselves.
“I think they’re all outstanding actors,” Paxton said. “I think they all approach the roles very differently and that’s what I love.”
Gleeson came to the role with an impeccable Scottish accent. Rankin put on a more soulful performance. And O’Rourke worked on his character with Paxton for years ahead of the film.
“I didn’t know how these different approaches were all going to work, but as soon as we got them all together, they just got on incredibly well. They all pushed each other. They all kind of responded to each other,” Paxton said.
Paxton said the main challenge of the film was not writing the script or directing the actors. Instead, it was filming in the harsh environment of the Scottish highlands. The remote filming location meant that the crew had to work within weather windows and come highly prepared. There was no quick fix if something broke on set. Traveling to a cliffside or beach was an intense effort, carrying all of the necessary filming equipment, and even in summer, the North Sea is frigid.
In one scene, Daniel shows Isla how to swim. Paxton said making the situation seem enjoyable despite the chilly weather and water was an effort in itself.
“We wanted that to have a nice vibe. We didn’t want it to feel like they’re standing just, like, shivering in the water. But it was cold, and we had 10 minutes and then that was it,” Paxton said.
Paxton said he is proud of the end result, which is made better by its debut at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Having a universal appeal, he said, was important even for a film that’s uniquely Scottish. It’s part of the joy of having the film premiere for a larger audience.
“You couldn’t hope for a better premiere,” Paxton said.
‘The Incomer’ in-person screenings
- 6 p.m., Jan. 29, Megaplex Redstone 4
- 8:45 p.m., Jan. 31, Library Center Theatre
Online
- 8 a.m., Jan. 29-11:55 p.m., Feb. 1