Mission Review (2026 Edinburgh Film Festival)

Have you ever felt like you had no true purpose in life? Simply going through the motions with no end in sight? If you are lucky enough to have not felt this, someone you know surely has. Unfortunately, without the help some may greatly need, the world spirals around them. Something we can all relate to is how would you live your life if it was your last day, or week? Exploring this idea, and perhaps living life with that mindset, is how we can all live life to the fullest.

Bringing this concept to the screen in an all consuming and entrapping film, director Paul Wright explores pain and internal suffering through one man’s eyes. In Mission, the idea of right and wrong means nothing. The most colourful and nauseating world is formed. To truly find a life worth living, one tears the current world he lives into pieces. It takes us on a journey to the brink of insanity, all to remind us of life’s true purpose. Perhaps. Almost too much at times, if you can push past the pure madness, you can see what is underneath — at its core.

Lost in space, but down on earth, Dylan (George Mackay) cannot find where he belongs in this world. His job in the city is meaningless. Without any friends or true purpose in life, he begins to question why his situation is how it is. One quick moment, one rash decision and Dylan decides to destroy his mundane life and gives himself one week to complete a mission: To find a way to truly live, before he dies.

In the beginning, viewers begin to witness a man truly broken. But as Dylan’s decisions become more and more intense, one is left wondering entirely what is going on. His actions quickly escalate to the extreme. Going against the modern world and taking it out on those who have made his life miserable, will cause him to never be able to come back from this. Not only does it become apparent that he is unwell, Dylan completely begins to loose grips on reality.

Fear and confusion collide as the strange history he shares with his estranged sister, Claire (Rosy McEwen), fades. Falling away from family and into a rampage of hate and obsession, Dylan’s mission changes course and all these emotions he has are directed towards his boss (Emun Elliott) and coworkers (Emma Naomi), his rivals and everything that is wrong in the world. Pushing himself and the world around him to the brink, the viewer will begin to wonder just what the results of his decisions will be. The question comes as to whether or not he will find meaning, connection and ultimately his salvation, or will he be left with absolutely nothing left to live for.

“What would you do if you had a week to live?” An interesting concept that sometimes feels studied the same way in media. It is the idea of living your life to the fullest because you never know what might happen. At least, that is one way to take it. But writer-director Paul Wright takes this all the more different and intricately in Mission. An outsider turned into a rebel and a misfit — the best way to describe what he looks at and studies in his latest film. In an attempt to look further into the way we want to express ourselves as people, Wright’s tale follows such an extreme path.

Just as Dylan’s path changes in the film, the audience’s point of view changes too. With the loneliness and feeling like you do not belong is beyond relatable, for some. But as the story changes, one begins to wonder entirely what is going on. As much as it is so easy to follow what Wright is trying to say, on the same level it is just as difficult to know what Dylan is up to. Somehow mundane at first, he challenges himself. But in the end, the brink of insanity he approaches is truly scary. Carefully crafting his script, and showing us just what we need to see, Wright takes us through Dylan’s slow and painful decline.

In Dylan’s path, lies darkness. But in the beginning it is pain. At the start, Mackay plays Dylan as an innocent. Not sure where he belongs in the world and completely uncomfortable with his workplace and coworkers. He need not say much for this to come through with his emotions. Then, as Dylan decides to upend his life, things begin to change. Mackay’s demeanour, in turn, goes completely different. It is a shift that you do not expect from the actor. While yes, he is known for the talent, but in Dylan we find and witness something darker and more painful. Through a tough mental decline in character, Mackay takes the ride all the way, pulling the audience with him.

Mission is more of a character and environment driven film than a plot driven one. While yes, Dylan is on a specific mission, it is what he as an individual feels and internally experiences that brings the audience on this journey with him. A wild and rebellious energy to the film, the viewer can feel that want for connection and belonging in the character. Reflecting upon what is being shown, it gives you the chance to think about the world and the people in it. Perhaps you are not experiencing these emotions yourself, but there will be someone around you who has.

Another intriguing Edinburgh International Film Festival piece, premiering as part of the In Competition strand on Saturday, 15th August . Through an extreme and intense cinematic experience, writer-director Paul Wright has thrown us into the deep end, in such a compelling sense. Through a frighteningly perfect performance from Mackay, Mission takes on a world of its own. Leaving you wondering and contemplating the world around you more than you would have been before.

★★★★

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World premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Saturday 15th August 2026 / George Mackay, Rosy McEwen, Emun Elliott, Emma Naomi / Dir: Paul Wright