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Hidden away in New Zealand’s spectacular Waitere Ranges, Loop Track introduces us to Ian, a man seeking solace on a solo hiking trip. Directed and starring Thomas Sainsbury, the film offers a glimpse into Ian’s fractured psyche as he embarks on a winding forest path. Plagued by loneliness and doubts, Ian struggles to find peace in nature’s calm.

His efforts to wander alone are futile, though, as the trail brings him face-to-face with other travelers. First comes Nicky, an upbeat fellow hiker who refuses to leave Ian’s side. Later, the pair crosses paths with Austin and Monica, a friendly Australian couple exploring the woods. As Ian’s discomfort grows, simple sounds in the bushes take on a sinister air. Are the shadows of his troubled mind creeping closer, or does real danger stalk the forest fringe?

Balancing delicate tones of drama, mystery, and horror, Loop Track crafts an immersive,...

Writer-director Thomas Sainsbury plays a twitchy divorcee who wants to get away from it all, but this intriguing journey disappoints at the final hurdle

“I just wanted some quiet. But it’s so quiet out here. And all I can hear is my brain.” New Zealand hiker Ian (Thomas Sainsbury) isn’t so much a worrywart as a one-man anxiety epidemic. Out trekking solo in the forest to get away from a divorce, everything is a source of torment to this clammy-browed sadsack: his blisters, the possibility of encountering other hikers, but especially the lingering possibility something is lurking in the darkness behind him at the path’s vanishing point. Luckily, fellow wayfarer Nicky (Hayden J Weal) takes Ian under his wing.

It’s not clear if loquacious Nicky, a glucose shot in human form, is a boon companion or a further ordeal for Ian. Ditto loved-up Aussies Monica (Kate Simmonds...

Exclusively on Arrow this July, Loop Track, an electrifying journey into the unknown from Kiwi writer-director and actor Tom Sainsbury. Known for his comedic flair in such works as Wellington Paranormal and Guns Akimbo, Sainsbury stars as a hiker whose solo trek in the New Zealand bush takes a very unexpected turn.

Highly anxious Ian Thompson (Sainsbury) sets off on a solo trek in the New Zealand bush for some respite from the stress of everyday life. His plans for uninterrupted solitude are scuppered however, when he encounters Nicky (Hayden J Weal) and other hikers, only exacerbating his paranoia. As Ian’s grip on reality weakens, he becomes convinced they are being followed. Miles from civilisation, their journey turns into a fight for survival as Ian’s fears manifest into a surreal battle against an unseen threat lurking in the wilderness. Is it all just in his head? Or is someone,...

Streaming exclusively on Arrow this July is Loop Track, an unnerving psychological horror thriller from Kiwi writer-director Tom Sainsbury. Known for his comedic roles in Wellington Paranormal and Guns Akimbo, Sainsbury makes his directorial debut with this gripping and tense exploration of isolation and paranoia. Set against the backdrop of the New Zealand wilderness, Loop Track stars Sainsbury himself as Ian Thompson, a hiker whose solo trek takes a very unexpected and terrifying turn.

In Loop Track, highly anxious Ian Thompson seeks solace from the stress of everyday life by embarking on a solo hike in the New Zealand bush. However, his plans for uninterrupted solitude are quickly disrupted when he encounters fellow hiker Nicky, played by Hayden J. Weal, along with other hikers. These encounters only serve to exacerbate Ian’s paranoia. As his grip on reality weakens, Ian becomes convinced they are being followed. The journey turns into...

To celebrate the release of Loop Track on Limited Edition Blu-Ray available 8th July, we are giving you access to an exclusive clip from the film and are giving away 2 Blu-Rays!

Writer-director and actor Tom Sainsbury, known for his comedic flair in such works as Wellington Paranormal and Guns Akimbo, shows his hidden passion for thrillers and human drama with Loop Track, his latest collaboration with Chillbox Creative which promises an electrifying journey into the unknown.

Highly anxious Ian Thompson (Sainsbury) sets off on a solo trek in the New Zealand bush for some respite from the stress of everyday life. His plans for uninterrupted solitude are scuppered however, when he encounters Nicky (Hayden J Weal) and other hikers, only exacerbating his paranoia. As Ian’s grip on reality weakens, he becomes convinced they are being followed. Miles from civilisation, their journey turns into a fight for survival as Ian...

There is no place better for a horror fan than the ever-growing film library of Shudder. It was already one of the most niche streaming services in the market, it is also perfect for giving the fans what they want by giving them new and exciting horror films every month. So, if you love Shudder and are wondering what are best movies coming to the Scream Queen of streaming services in June 2024, here are our best picks for you.

A Lonely Place to Die (June 3)

A Lonely Place to Die is a British action thriller film directed by Julian Gilbey from a screenplay co-written by Julian and Will Gilbey. The 2011 film follows the story of five hikers as they hear cries of pain in the wilderness and to their horror it’s a little girl buried in the ground. When they decide to get her to safety they are chased by the kidnappers.

Written and directed by Thomas Sainsbury (who also acted in the film as the lead protagonist), Loop Track is a survival thriller that talks about the fear and paranoia in the human mind and the urge to fight those negative emotions. The story follows an introverted, socially anxious Ian, who decided to go hiking in a deep, dense forest to detach himself from the mundane world, but amid the darkness of the forest, he saw something that his other fellow hikers couldn’t comprehend. Let’s dive deep into the story of Loop Track to find out what exactly Ian saw behind the trees.

Spoilers Ahead

Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Film?

Loop Track began with Ian in his car, arriving near the forest, when an indigenous woman knocked at his car window and started talking gibberish, which somehow frightened Ian and made him uncomfortable. Soon we understand that...

A walk in the woods tends to spell trouble for horror movie characters, and Loop Track is no exception to this unspoken genre rule. However, despite its overused setup, Tom Sainsbury‘s directorial debut — a long feature seven years in the making — manages to feel fresh. Its innovation doesn’t so much lie in the story but rather the smart execution. Sainsbury takes an admirably deliberate approach to a conventional idea, all the while delivering a rewarding conclusion that will validate many folks’ fear of nature.

From start to finish, Loop Track is a tale fraught with anxiety and paranoia. Sainsbury plays his movie’s own main character, Ian, and his insight into this nervous fellow makes for a convincing performance. Viewers don’t have to wait long before Ian’s creeping terror begins; upon his first step into the forest, it’s clear something isn’t right here. The...

"There's something in the trees..." Dark Sky Films has revealed an official trailer for an indie thriller from New Zealand titled Loop Track, arriving in the US this December to watch on VOD. This first premiered at the 2023 New Zealand Film Festival earlier in the year, and it also screened at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival. A four-day journey turns into a fight for survival – this is a psychological thriller about Ian, who wants to get as far away from humanity as possible, into the New Zealand bush. Some other individuals get attached to him. And he has the feeling that they are being followed. Is that real though? Far from society, Ian starts to question his sanity before plunging into a bloody battle for his own survival. Writer / director Thomas Sainsbury also stars as Ian, with a small cast including Hayden J. Weal, Tawanda Manyimo, Kate Simmonds, and Noa Campbell.

When it comes to horror, there’s always something dangerous lurking in the woods. A brand new trailer for New Zealand psychological thriller Loop Track teases that the threat could be an anxious man on the verge of a breakdown, or something far more monstrous.

Dark Sky Films will release Loop Track on VOD and Digital on December 1.

In Loop Track: “Ian, a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown, disappears from the world and takes a hike in the New Zealand wilderness. His efforts to avoid other hikers are futile and he is drawn into their worlds, but he can never shake the feeling that they are being stalked by someone, or something, sinister. As Ian’s paranoia grows, the other hikers become wary of him. He’s cagey about his past, he never sleeps, and his anxiety leads him to make concerning claims. Far from society,...