Manchester Film Festival is well underway in 2026, with 10 days of movie madness kicking off on 19 March, 2026.
As we edge over the halfway mark, Solitary, an independent Irish film that, despite a limited budget, has caught critics’ attention since its release.
Film News Blitz writer Joe Matthews made his way over to the Capital of the North to see what all the fuss was about, and his thoughts do contain some minor spoilers.
What is ‘Solitary’ about?
As the name suggests, Solitary follows Brendan, a widowed farmer living on the outskirts of the local village, as he finds himself the target of a terrifying home invasion.
Living alone after the passing of his late wife, his daughter and her partner try to encourage him to move in with them in Dublin, but he refuses, scared to leave his home, keeping him rooted in the past.
His isolation and disconnection from the world around him are devastating, and seeing him claw for the few around him to stay, without just telling them how he feels, makes for a difficult and soberingly real watch.
This film, however, is certainly no thriller, and instead is paced slowly, to show how stuck in the past Brendan, played by first-time feature actor Gerry Herbert, is, and how reluctant he is to seek help from those around him.
A quite literal ‘night and day’ (SPOILERS AHEAD)
Throughout the early stages of the film, we see a clear divide between the actions and emotions in daylight, as opposed to what happens in the dark of night.
We see him visit the local shop, take in a few beers with his pub-owning friends, and attend the local community centre, before he goes back home, lies down in bed, and restlessly lies there alone, waiting for the sun to rise.
Severe, powerfully shot scenes show us the stark contrast that nighttime brings.
Brendan trawls through his house at the slightest noise or disturbance, wielding a weapon where he can, and yet despite all this, he refuses to discuss the impact of the situation on himself.
The nighttime scenes are constantly shot with similar filmmaking techniques to horror films; wide-open backgrounds, shadowy movement, and uncomfortable music choices all contributed to tensed shoulders and uneasy feelings.
Gerry Herbert’s first feature film
In the midst of a largely depressing and eerie film, there is a performance to take note of: Gerry Herbert as the isolated Irishman, Brendan.
Surprisingly, this powerful and moving performance is his first in a feature-length film, and he creates a character we all know, perhaps in our parents or grandparents.
In an impactful ‘show, don’t tell’ style, Herbert brings a grittily realistic portrayal of fear and a reluctance to accept help, and director Eamonn Murphy also revealed that many shots had to be done in one attempt due to budgetary restrictions.
Ultimately, Herbert’s performance headlines what is a powerful and eye-opening story of fear and loneliness.
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