Thomas Sainsbury is better known as having played Officer Parker in comedy series Wellington Paranormal. In addition to acting, Sainsbury is a screenwriter and director. His writing work includes six episodes of Wellington Paranormal, and the delightfully funny Dead (directed by Hayden J. Neal); his directing work is more focused on short films. Now, Sainsbury has both written and directed Loop Track.
Loop Track sees Sainsbury star as Ian, a man who takes an ill-advised hike through the New Zealand countryside. Having recently lost his business, Ian wants to escape from the world and decides that a trek through a notoriously difficult bush trail is his best chance of peace. Unfortunately for Ian, his route sees him cross paths with Nicky (Hayden J Neal). Nicky is Ian’s polar opposite on every level, and he insists on sticking with Ian. As they progress deeper into the woodland landscape they meet more travellers, and Ian begins to suspect there’s something else lurking behind them.
Fans of Sainsbury’s previous work may be disappointed that Loop Track doesn’t push the comedy as hard. There is still a strong thread of humour, but it is less in the foreground than other projects. The bulk of the comedy comes through the interactions of Ian and Nicky. Sainsbury and Neal are frequent collaborators and the pair are a joy to watch together on screen. Those who enjoyed the two in Dead will be very happy to see their brotherhood continue here. They make a fantastic on-screen odd couple and they effortlessly breathe life into Ian and Nicky. Sainsbury is great as the neurotic Ian and Neal shines as self-obsessed ‘ladies man’ Nicky.
Rather than be an outright comedy, Loop Track is instead a poignant exploration of paranoia and mental health. Ian’s reasons for undertaking the trail may have darker origins, and the realisation of this coats the tone with pathos. Then there’s Ian’s ever increasing belief that he is being stalked by something. Given the condition of Ian’s mental health, the viewer is constantly trying to work out whether what he is seeing is real or a symptom of his illness. Towards the end, Loop Track affirms its stance and enables the story to get crazy, which opens up the scope for some ingenious effects work. The problem though is that this climatic section goes on for too long as Loop Track suffers from ‘too many endings’ syndrome.
An interesting departure from what some will be expecting from Sainsbury, Loop Track proves that the multi-hyphen creator has an aptitude for more than just comedy. The addition of frequent collaborator Hayden J. Neal enriches the enjoyment, helping the more humorous elements shine without them detracting from the darkness residing within.
Loop Track
Summary
A well-written paranoid thriller, Loop Track runs out of steam towards the end, muddying itself with one too many attempts at a conclusion. Despite this, Loop Track is an enjoyably tense and often humorous journey into the fragile mind of one man.
Loop Track was reviewed at Celluloid Screams 2023.
