Film Review – Islands

“Islands” is an unusual film. It’s a mystery in many ways, but it’s also a character study, tracking the days of a washed-up tennis player dealing with the dullness of his life while employed as an instructor for a resort in the Canary Islands. There’s a lot going on with the characters, but co-writer/director Jan-Ole Gerster isn’t interested in raising the dramatic speed limit on the endeavor, trying to remain as slow-burn as possible, allowing viewers to clearly study the story and character reactions. The feature isn’t commanding in a traditional way, despite teasing a few Hitchcockian elements, but it succeeds as something to explore, as Gerster uses his gorgeous locations to help pull viewers into the central situation, and details are present for those with the patience to hunt for them. “Islands” sneaks up on the audience, and while there’s no grand escalation, there are dramatic textures to feel around for, helping to stay involved in a fairly leisurely crisis. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com