Loop Track (2023)
Director: Thomas Sainsbury Run Time: 94 min. Rating: NR Release Year: 2023
Starring: Hayden J. Weal, Kate Simmonds, Noa Campbell, Tawanda Manyimo, Thomas Sainsbury
Country: New Zealand
Language: English
About the film:
World Premiere, 2023 New Zealand International Film Festival
Seeking peace and quiet, highly anxious Ian (writer/director Thomas Sainsbury) sets off on a multi-day hike through the New Zealand bush. His solitude is interrupted by other exuberant hikers – Nicky, Monica, and Austin – as well as his overactive mind. As the walkers head deeper into the wilderness, Ian becomes convinced that someone, or something, is following them through the trees. This presence reveals itself when the hikers are at their most isolated, plunging the party into a bloody fight for survival.
Deceptively clever, with a WTF? ending you’re guaranteed not to see coming, Loop Track masterfully ratchets up the tension and suspense amongst ostensible strangers stuck in the woods together before blowing the lid off with a terrifying danger that defies any and all expectations.
About the filmmaker:
Thomas Sainsbury is a New Zealand actor, writer, filmmaker, comedian, and a popular and prolific playwright known for his dark comedy. He has produced more than 50 plays, including The Christmas Monologues, And Then You Die and A Simple Procedure, which have had seasons in London and Australia. He has been named Playmarket’s Young Playwright of the Year four times, and was a finalist for the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award three times.
Sainsbury has written many New Zealand web series and comedy shows, including International Emmy Awards winner INSiDE. Among his many acting roles, he plays Constable Parker on the comedy horror series Wellington Paranormal, a spin-off of the 2014 film What We Do in the Shadows. He joined the writing team in season four, picking up a nomination for Best Comedy Script at the 2022 NZTV Awards. Working with Chillbox Creative, he has entered the 48hours film competition four times, winning the grand prize twice, and runner-up once. He was also awarded the Best Director award twice in the competition. He reunited with much of his 48hour film team on his feature directorial debut, the horror film Loop Track (2023).
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