Life can be overwhelming. Even for those who seem to have it all together, everyone reaches their limit at some point. This is why time off to “get away” to recoup and re center one’s self is so important – otherwise the inevitable burnout will be too consuming. 

What happens, though, when an attempt at escapism results in more harm than good? For the anxiety-riddled Ian (Thomas Sainsbury, who also serves as writer and director), an opportunity to leave society behind turns into an unexpectedly dark, psychologically twisted trek into the New Zealand bush in Loop Track. 

When we are first introduced to Ian, it’s clear he’s going through a lot. When he arrives at the base of the trail he’s planning on hiking, he’s twitchy, sweaty, and nervous, and doesn’t fit the bill of an experienced, confident hiker in any way (he’s not even wearing the appropriate clothing).We aren’t given much information as to why he’s behaving this way, but thanks to Sainbury’s immersive performance, we don’t really need to know. It’s obvious he just wants to get away from anyone and everyone, as quickly as possible.

This unfortunately doesn’t go as well as he planned, and shortly into his trip, he encounters a few fellow hikers – the overly outgoing Nicky (Hayden J. Weal) and newlyweds Austin (Tawanda Manyimo) and Monica (Kate Simmonds). Within mere moments after meeting, Nicky is painfully unaware of Ian’s overt discomfort of his presence, and he only makes the situation worse by being obnoxiously pushy and obtrusive. Despite this, Ian just can’t quite get rid of the guy, and once they meet up with Austin and Monica at the cabin they’ll be staying at overnight, he’s resigned to the fact that his goals for this excursion aren’t going to happen.

For someone with such extreme social anxiety, this would be enough nightmare fuel to fill up an entire horror film all on its own. The terror doesn’t stop there for Ian, though, as stress and lack of sleep begin to catch up to him, altering his senses and perception of reality. When he begins to see an ominous figure lurking in the woods, his paranoia reaches unbearable heights, as he tries in vain to convince the others what he’s seeing and experiencing. Is Ian slowly going mad, or is there truth to his claims?

Loop Track is a prime example of weaving a tale that’s both a slow burn and deeply captivating. From the moment Ian steps foot on that trail, you know something is amiss. The New Zealand wilderness provides a unique and oddly ominous setting, showing that even the most beautiful locations can carry a dark and twisted underlayer. 

From the camera work, to the atmosphere of the woods themselves, to the utterly tense portrayal by Sainsbury of a man at the end of his rope, you feel it in your bones that something very, very wrong is about to happen. That intensity doesn’t ever let up, but only grows to the final act, which is so surprisingly insane that the less you know going in, the better. Sainsbury wears all three hats with expert precision; a feat that isn’t always so easily accomplished in film.

The rest of the cast is equally talented, particularly Weal, who excels at playing someone who is unabashedly irritating but also hapless and clueless. He’s the perfect juxtaposition to Ian’s neuroticism and adds in a sprinkling of dark humor to help break the tension from time to time.

Loop Track is a film that deserves to be talked about and noticed. It’s a taut, smart, unpredictable thriller that will haunt you long after its final moments.

10 out of 10