Directed by Simon Ryninks

Review by Hunter King

Edinburgh International Film Festival

Simon Ryninks was inspired by the stars as he wrote his new film Out There, which premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. He also was heavily influenced by Welsh culture and a boom in the ‘90s that saw an uptick in reported UFO sightings across the country. Despite what it may look like on paper though, Out There is not much of an alien movie, but much more deeply rooted in the human experience.

When Maz (Nerys Amber Stocks) was young she would sit with her father (Iwan Rheon) and look at the stars, but after an accident that leaves her memory fuzzy and her dad missing, she feels the need to search for him. Joining her team of helpers are her childhood best friend Little Elis (Tom Moya), Bryn, an absurd and eccentric ufologist (Aneurin Barnard), and occasionally a stoner named Shifty Gruff (Michael Sheen).

The film overall is a strong coming of age story, watching in real time as Maz figures out the events of her childhood and copes with them. Stocks plays Maz with a toughness that makes her likeable but a vulnerability that makes her genuinely human. Sometimes the action feels slightly stalled, like the danger that surrounds them is not actually dangerous, but when observing from the point of view of a sixteen year old, the perspective changes and the situations once again feel quite tense. 

Barnard and Sheen bring the comedic relief to the film, which at its heart gives the film legs to stand on. Both play larger than life characters, but despite this they are both characters that fully encapsulate someone that everybody knows in their hometown or workplace. 

The film overall is a positive watch, but would serve itself well marketing as a coming of age story more than an adventure flick, as the most important and prevalent moments in the film are full of heart, love, and a sense of growing up (despite a distinct lack of aliens). 

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