There was something particularly special about watching The Incomer open the 79th Edinburgh International Film Festival, especially as it marks the feature debut of director Louis Paxton.

Having already picked up the NEXT Innovator Award at Sundance 2026, The Incomer arrived at EIFF with plenty of buzz — and honestly, after watching it, I can see exactly what all the fuss is about.

Before the film began, Paxton introduced his debut to the audience at the Cameo and shared a lovely piece of nostalgia about the very venue where his film was about to premiere. Paxton revealed that he first came to the Cameo at just 15 years old for work experience. Standing there years later, introducing his own feature film, you could see just how proud he was — and rightly so.

The Incomer takes us to a remote Scottish island, where siblings Isla and Sandy have built a quiet life in isolation. That peaceful existence is disrupted by the arrival of an outsider, setting off a wonderfully strange chain of events that brings humour, chaos and plenty of heart.

I have to admit, I was slightly apprehensive at the beginning. With the story initially centred so heavily around Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin, Grant O’Rourke, Michelle Gomez, Emun Elliot and a very humorous John Hannah. I wondered whether the small cast could carry an entire feature. How wrong I was.

They absolutely smashed it.

The performances completely exceeded my expectations. Domhnall Gleeson particularly surprised me with just how loveable his character is, while the brother quickly became one of my favourite parts of the film. His comedy is brilliant, made even funnier by the fact that the characters deliver some completely ridiculous moments with the most wonderfully straight faces.

And that is what makes the humour work so well. Nothing feels forced. The comedy is natural, witty and perfectly timed, and Paxton shows a real confidence behind the camera. For a feature debut, his direction feels assured, distinctive and full of personality.

There is something wonderfully Scottish about the whole film — the landscape, the characters, the isolation and, of course, the chaos. It manages to be funny without losing its heart, and strange without ever becoming difficult to follow.

And then there are the gulls.

Let’s just say, everyone needs to find the bird in themselves.

I also walked away knowing considerably more about gulls than I ever expected to, which is not something I thought I’d be saying after watching a film at EIFF.

What I loved most about The Incomer, though, was the feeling it left me with. Every now and then, I think we all need a wonderful story. Something that reminds us about storytelling, magic and believing. The Incomer gave me exactly that.

I found myself laughing throughout, completely engrossed in this strange little world of loneliness, protection and beautifully unexpected chaos. And by the time the story reaches its conclusion, each character finds a reality that feels right for them.

Afterwards, I found myself doing a deep dive into the cast and discovering just how much work some of them have already done across television and film — which only made me appreciate the performances even more.

For a first feature, Louis Paxton has created something incredibly charming, funny and memorable. More importantly, he has made a film that feels like it has its own identity.

I can genuinely see The Incomer becoming a huge hit. I would absolutely recommend it, and I would happily watch it again.

A brilliant way to open EIFF 2026.

SpotlightTalks Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Verdict: Funny, charming, wonderfully Scottish and completely unexpected — The Incomer is a brilliant reminder that sometimes we all need a little bit of magic