Movies: Islands (2025) by Jan-Ole Gerster: A Tennis Coach's Escape on a Holiday Island

A German-Produced Island Noir

Islands is a 2025 German-produced film categorized as a Crime, Drama, and Thriller, directed by Jan-Ole Gerster and co-written by Gerster, Blaz Kutin, and Lawrie Doran. The film has a runtime of 2 hours and 3 minutes (123 minutes) and centers on Tom (Sam Riley), a washed-up professional tennis player working as a coach at a hotel resort on a holiday island. His monotonous life of giving lessons and engaging in casual encounters is disrupted by the arrival of a wealthy, mysterious tourist family: Anne (Stacy Martin), her husband Dave (Jack Farthing), and their son. As Tom is drawn into a relationship with Anne, unresolved tension and an unnerving sense of familiarity lead to conflict, culminating in the disappearance of Dave, making Tom and Anne prime suspects. The movie has a Metascore of 77 and has garnered 1 win & 3 nominations in its festival run.

Why to Watch This Movie: Atmospheric Tone and Strong Acting

• Ambiguous Psychological Drama: The film is primarily a solid drama that explores a man adrift, focusing on themes of "purpose in life" and psychological portraits of repression, projection, and control, rather than overt action.

• Hitchcockian Film Noir Vibe: Reviewers note a distinctive atmosphere that feels like an "old film noir directed by Hitchcock" but set against an idyllic, sun-drenched backdrop, creating an unsettling contrast.

• Sam Riley's Fine Acting: The performance of Sam Riley as the protagonist, Tom, is frequently praised as a "fine acting" display that holds the central psychological portrait together.

• Cinematic Visuals: The cinematography is consistently praised for capturing the "beauty of its setting," particularly the "turquoise blue of the sea and sky," which enhances the film's intriguing, languid atmosphere.

• Unique Premise: The setting and idea of a former tennis pro finding himself entangled in a relationship with a mysterious family is considered "quite interesting and unique," setting the film apart from typical thrillers.

Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/de/Film/islands-2025

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27796126/

Link Review: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/16/islands-review-sexual-tension-and-dangerously-polite-encounters

About movie: https://augenschein-filmproduktion.de/en/films/detail/islands.html

What is the Trend followed: The Neo-Noir Psychological Study

The film follows the trend of the Neo-Noir Psychological Study, using the framework of crime and thriller genres to explore deep-seated character flaws, moral ambiguity, and existential dread.

• Idyllic Betrayal: It uses a contemporary, non-traditional setting (a sunny holiday resort) to contrast sharply with the dark, ambiguous, and morally transactional behavior of the characters, a hallmark of modern noir.

• Ambiguity over Clarity: The film "thrives in ambiguity," leaving key questions unresolved (like paternity and Tom's true intentions), requiring the audience to engage deeply with the subtext, which is typical of complex psychological thrillers.

• Emotional Detachment: The narrative focuses on emotional and psychological states ("projection, repression, and the unsettling space between desire and manipulation") rather than straightforward plot resolution.

Director's Vision: Sun-Drenched Tension and Character Focus

• Atmosphere and Contrast: Director Jan-Ole Gerster focuses his vision on creating a palpable sense of unease. He contrasts the "sun-drenched frames and the languid pacing" of the idyllic island with a dark, "noir-like tension" lurking beneath the surface.

• Character Study as Priority: The primary goal is to present a "psychological portrait of a man adrift—without goals or direction," using the external events (the family's arrival, the disappearance) merely as "a means to cause disruption" in the protagonist's routine.

• Unconventional Storytelling: The direction aims to treat viewers as "smart enough to understand what is implied by the script," often relying on implication and subtext rather than explicit plot exposition.

Themes: Existential Drifting, Manipulation, and Identity

• Existential Drifting: The film explores the theme of being adrift—Tom's life as a washed-up professional is a metaphor for a journey "without destination," where the beautiful island feels like a "cage."

• Manipulation and Transactional Intimacy: The relationship between Tom and Anne is heavily defined by subtextual manipulation, where "intimacy feels transactional" and Tom is suspected to be less a lover and more a "surrogate."

• The Past and Escape: The plot centers on Tom's desire for an "escape of his own" and his inability to shake the feeling that he has met Anne before, indicating that one cannot truly escape one's past or unresolved history.

• Identity and Role: The characters' bonds are "almost performative," raising questions about identity and the roles individuals play within relationships.

Key Success Factors: Critical Acclaim and Aesthetic Quality

• High Critical Consensus: The Metascore of 77 (based on 44 critic reviews) indicates generally favorable reviews, confirming its strength as an art-house drama/thriller.

• Strong Ensemble: The central dynamic between Sam Riley, Stacy Martin, and Jack Farthing is key to establishing the unsettling familial tension that drives the plot.

• Genre Subversion: The film successfully uses thriller elements not for action, but for disruption, appealing to audiences who value psychological depth over conventional crime plotting.

• Visual Appeal: The combination of "solid cinematography" and the beautiful setting provides a strong aesthetic foundation that compensates for any narrative inconsistencies.

Awards & Nominations: Positive Early Reception

The film has received early recognition on the festival circuit, accumulating 1 win & 3 nominations total. This early acclaim validates the film's artistic merit, particularly its unique narrative approach and strong performances, positioning it well for further consideration in independent film awards.

Critics Reception: Strong Cinematic Aesthetic, Mixed Narrative Cohesion

• Metascore (77/100): This score reflects a generally positive critical consensus, indicating strong praise for the film's aesthetic qualities and mood.

• Featured Review (julietharper-74331): Highly rated the film, praising its "sense of intrigue," the "fine acting," and the "feeling of an old film noir directed by Hitchcock."

• Featured Review (constheo): While acknowledging the "solid cinematography," this review stated the film "fails to fully deliver" due to "script's inconsistencies and narrative leaps," ultimately leaving a "sense of detachment."

• Featured Review (Weltenbrand): Called it a "solid drama" that was "wrongly marketed" as a thriller, but praised the convincing acting and the film's ability to "keep you thinking about your life afterwards."

Overall Critics Summary: Critics largely praised the film's mood, cinematography, and atmosphere, often comparing it to classic film noir. However, there was a divergence of opinion on the script's coherence, with some finding the ambiguity profound, while others felt the narrative suffered from significant "inconsistencies and narrative leaps."

Reviews: Fair Rating with Polarized Views on Genre

• IMDb Aggregate (6.4/10): The current aggregate user rating is fair, suggesting general audience appreciation, but not enthusiasm.

• Featured Reviews: Reviews are polarized regarding the film's genre. Some users felt the film was "more beautiful in the drama and romance genre than in the crime genre," while others appreciated the "noir-like tension."

• Key Criticisms: Negative reviews focused on a perceived "gray finish" and a feeling that the film struggled to "forge a real connection between the audience and its main characters," suggesting an overly intellectual or detached approach.

Overall User Summary: User reception is generally positive, but with a division over the film's marketing versus its execution. It is viewed as a solid, thought-provoking drama that benefits from its unique aesthetic, but may frustrate viewers expecting a straightforward genre thriller.

Movie Trend: International Co-Production and Genre Blurring

The film follows the trend of International Co-Production (Germany/Spain/Brazil) and Genre Blurring in European cinema. By combining funding and talent from multiple countries, it achieves a global artistic reach. Furthermore, its deliberate mix of Crime, Drama, and Thriller elements reflects a trend away from rigid genre categorization toward more complex, psychologically focused narratives.

Social Trend: Existential Discontent in Affluence

The film follows the social trend of Existential Discontent in Affluent Settings. The story uses the opulent backdrop of a luxurious hotel resort and wealthy tourists to explore themes of profound boredom, dissatisfaction, and the search for meaning. This reflects a contemporary cultural focus on the psychological emptiness that can persist despite material success.

Final Verdict: A Challenging but Essential Look at Impunity

Islands is a cinematically beautiful and psychologically layered drama/thriller that delivers a unique, slow-burn sense of noir tension. Its strong critical reception is due to its aesthetic quality and excellent lead performances. While viewers seeking a fast-paced thriller may be disappointed by its languid pace and narrative ambiguities, it is a highly recommended watch for those who appreciate character studies, European art-house cinema, and films that explore the dark side of an idyllic setting.