When vlogger Angus (Charlie Robb) gets an opportunity to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a remote Northumberland retreat, he jumps at the chance to escape the stresses of everyday life and the thought of a digital detox certainly appeals. Well, until he gets there and sets up multiple cameras in order to record his experiences in the midst of nature and what it means to live off the land. However, the noises he hears in the night might not just be the local wildlife. Is an ancient protector of the woods about to make Angus regret he ever left the city?
We’re in that area of horror marked “found footage,” specifically weird things happening in dense forests, in which even the keenest sense of direction gets you nowhere and you’re never going to get so much as one bar on your mobile phone. The Blair Witch Project arguably has something to answer for in terms of the cavalcade of execrable knockoffs which followed it but, over a quarter of a century from Heather’s iconic dribble of snot, the idea of filming yourself in a creepy, isolated place still has legs and Loner brings sufficient freshness to hold the interest, despite a relatively hefty runtime of a hundred minutes.
Early on, it’s clear that most of the action is going to focus on Angus and no one else, which is a bold move in itself as this leaves Robb to carry the entire weight of the piece via a series of monologues and escalating personal disasters. Initially, he’s full of terrible jokes and a certain level of self-deprecation – performative or otherwise – but as the unfamiliar surroundings cause his nerves to shred, those jokes turn to increasingly nervous laughter and self-loathing, suggesting that he may be just as big a danger to himself as any creature of myth lurking in the undergrowth.
Angus’ excitement about celebrating his forthcoming thirtieth birthday and using that landmark as a platform to reinvent himself soon gives way to various items going missing from the cabin, supplies dwindling and the spectre of partner Katie coming back to haunt him in a big way. An early line of dialogue about proving to himself that he’s good at something gives more than a peep into the soul of someone who comes across as a little too much, because he doesn’t believe he’s worth a great deal. Although there’s still a little guilty and darkly comic enjoyment to be had at him being toyed with by forces beyond his control, there’s a depth of characterisation that isn’t often present in this kind of movie.
Loner does check in at some of the subgenre’s waypoints, such as disquieting noises in the distance and the odd jump scare as something unexpected swings into view, but there are detours into generally unexplored territory to keep the viewer invested. A running gag about a mischievous presence stealing items of increasing importance is horrible fun and leads to Angus attempting to channel his inner Bear Grylls. Elsewhere, the existence of a handy guide about local myths and legends suggests that Angus possibly doesn’t have to take on the Big Bad but barter with it in terms of offerings, which results in…actually, that’s too gross to spoil.
Robb’s performance is interestingly poised and the balancing act between sympathetic and downright bloody annoying is specifically tested in that first act. However, as the plot progresses, the unveiling of Angus as a rather lonely and tragic figure should win over a lot of folks – unless you’re here for the psychological torture, in which case, fill your boots with this and never ask me to meet you for a coffee anywhere.
Yes, it’s possibly around fifteen minutes too long to truly grip. Yes, you may find the ultimate reveal a little bewildering, maybe even a little disappointing, if you’re waiting for a genuinely unhinged climax. However, I enjoyed the late swerve it took before settling on an ending that’s both emotional and quietly, effectively disturbing. In a field marked with identikit trudges on a well worn path, at least Loner has the smarts to stride out for much of the way on its own.
Loner features at this year’s Raindance Film Festival, premiering on 21st June 2025.
