by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What could be more terrifying than a parasitic alien invasion that nobody seems to be aware of? How about being the one person who might know… but it might not be exactly what it appears? Amazon has themselves quite the compelling thriller in the form of this new film, Encounter. Our journey begins when a father takes his sons on the run to avoid this terrible potential fate. But this film is so much more than just a bunch of chases and sneaking around shrouded in paranoia. Writer-director Michael Pearce’s film will have you sitting at the edge of your seat wondering what is truly going on and what might happen next.
How does Pearce accomplish this feel with his direction and screenplay? From the direction standpoint, he can craft effective tension around every turn. There is always something unnerving boiling underneath the surface. From the start, the audience seems to be moving along with the protagonist, Malik (Riz Ahmed). But as the film goes on, more layers are pulled back and the perspective we are given might not be as trustworthy as you might think. There are a few moments where solid scares are delivered with frightening visuals that will make the audience question what is really going on. Malik has plenty of paranoia… and soon the audience shares in that experience.
What about the script that Pearce brought to life? There are plenty of narrative pitfalls and twists that keep the audience on their toes. The film certainly shifts in perspective in the second half, but there is enough ambiguity to keep you guessing. Another important element of the film is the dynamic between Malik and his two sons. This road trip film (odd to think about it that way, but it is certainly accurate) provides plenty of time for the audience to see the relationship that Malik holds with his two sons. There are plenty of endearing moments but also some tension that will challenge the audience on how they really see Malik. Things might get a bit sloppy in the second half, which leads to a resolution that might come off a bit anticlimactic.
But how does this cast bring life to the film, especially with such a talent at the center like Ahmed? He certainly makes the most of it. Even with an interesting choice of accent, he can sell love, paranoia, and unhinged fear with plenty of emotions in between. He keeps proving that he is one of the best actors working today. You have a fine supporting turn for Octavia Spencer, who is the perfect supporting actor to throw in any project. But most importantly, the child actors who portray Malik’s sons really need to deliver. Lucian-River Chauhan gives a fine performance as the elder of the two sons while Aditya Geddada is so sweet and endearing making him one of the highlights of the film.
Will you be left full satisfied when the credits begin to roll on this one? That really depends on how well you buy in on where this film takes you. Encounter loses some steam towards the end of the film and could have been condensed. But there is plenty of heart and emotion to match the suspense and paranoia along the way. Do yourself a favor and get lost in this new Prime Original Film.
Grade: B
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