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The Outrun is effectively a dramatised biography for novelist and co-screenwriter Amy Liptrot, and her yoyo-ing in and out of alcoholism in real life, such as showing Rona (Saoirse Ronan – See How They Run) getting chucked out of a pub while completely hammered, then shifting to the time when she’s 117 days sober.
So, this film does jump back and forward in time, in the way it tell her story, sometimes throwing in bizarre fantasy animation, or telling us about Selkes, a term given to people who walk on land by day, but shapeshift back to being a seal in the water by night. I can only presume she’d been on the Special Brew at that time.
Although, apparently as we’re told, humans have 70% DNA in common with seals. The more you know, eh?
Back in London, Rona really wants to be a biologist, but is a slacker in whatever job we see her perform, along with most things in life, although when she visits her separated parents on Papay Island in the Orkneys whilst trying to steer clear of the booze – where her Mum, Annie (Saskia Reeves – Us (2020)), tells her “I’ll pray for you”, while Rona’s not at all religious, and Dad Andrew (Stephen Dillane – Vigil) is bipolar and lives in a caravan – while there, she does helps sheep give birth, along with getting into seaweed farming.
You can get a handle on where we are in her life, given that, like Ms Liptrot, Rona has various shades of multicoloured hair depending on the timeframe, but her character is unsympathetic, so when she’s one over the eight, it’s difficult to feel anything positive for her recovery.
At one point, her Dad tells Rona that the dykes have come down on the outrun, so that’s where the title comes from, and not anything to do with the ’80s arcade racing game, for anyone who wondered.
While this is stunningly filmed with gorgeous locations which look fantastic on the big screen, and with Saoirse Ronan putting on a great performance, overall, the film is a bit dull at times and very much a case of style over substance.
Fans of The The take note that This Is The Day plays over the closing credits, and I last hear that in a film in 2023’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol.3.
There is no mid- or post-credit scene, as such, but at the very end of the credits…
The Outrun is in cinemas now, and is available to pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD, ahead of its release date TBA.
You can also buy the novel in Paperback and Kindle.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 118 minutes
Release date: September 27th 2024
Studio: Studiocanal
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Cinema: Odeon Trafford Centre
Rating: 6/10
Director: Nora Fingscheidt
Producers: Sarah Brocklehurst, Jack Lowden, Dominic Norris, Saoirse Ronan
Screenplay: Nora Fingscheidt, Amy Liptrot
Novel: Amy Liptrot
Music: John Gürtler, Jan Miserre
Cast:
Rona: Saoirse Ronan
Andrew: Stephen Dillane
Annie: Saskia Reeves
Gloria: Izuka Hoyle
Julie: Lauren Lyle
Daynin: Paapa Essiedu
Amanda: Naomi Wirthner
Samir: Nabil Elouahabi
Pascal: Danyal Ismail
Bible Group Evie: Eilidh Fisher
Rita: Posy Sterling
James the Barman: Seamus Dillane
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.