Yesterday Island

(MA15+) ★★★★

Director: Sam Voutas.

Cast: Ivan Aristeguieta, Florence Noble, Francis Greenslade, Genevieve Neve, Luke Saliba.

"Last time I order a bucket of KFC on Uber Eats."

It's one thing to have a great high concept, it's another thing to turn it into a great 90-minute film.

The elevator pitch for Yesterday Island is basically "Groundhog Day: The Island", but it's more than that. This neat Australian comedy also happens to be a cunning morality play thanks to its neat plot mechanic - the only way off this time-loop isle is to find someone to replace you. So who would you doom to a single eternal day on a sub-Antarctic island in exchange for your own freedom?

Yesterday Island doesn't labour its ethical quandary but makes it work. There are a few leaps of faith for the audience, but by and large it's successful in making you laugh and think.

Amos (Aristeguieta) is the poor sucker lured onto the island and forced to figure out its riddle, then find someone to take his place on the ever-repeating isle. But how do you con someone you don't like to visit you on an island south of Tasmania? And how do you just leave them there?

Yesterday Island's very dry, straight-faced sense of humour helps sell its fantastical plot, while also making the most out of it. Running gags are the order of the day, and they make the film's deliberate repetition work in its favour.

The entire movie is compact - one set, few locations, small cast, tight story-telling - which adds to the claustrophobic nature of it all. The feeling of being trapped shines through, bringing a neat sense of tension to this absurd comedy.

Its solid cast of little-known actors (Mad As Hell's Francis Greenslade is potentially the biggest name here) does a great job, particularly Aristeguieta, Noble, and Neve. Aristeguieta has the difficult task of carrying the toughest part of the film and manages it pretty well, Noble bounces nicely off Aristeguieta when the story turns into a two-hander, while Neve's role as a sort-of-villain adds spice to the final act.

There are a few lines that clunk here and there, the ending is wild, and the film's internal logic strains at times, which may leave you scratching your head after the credits have rolled. But this indie comedy-sci-fi poses fascinating questions, has a few laughs along the way, and shows that you don't need big bucks to tell stories with big ideas.