My review of the new sci-fi thriller “ENCOUNTER” coming to Amazon Prime directed by Michael Pearce, starring Riz Ahmed, Octavia Spencer, Lucian-River Chauhan, Aditya Geddada, Rory Cochrane and Janina Gavankar.
Synopsis
Desperate to save his two young sons, Jay and Bobby, from a mysterious threat, decorated Marine Malik Khan (Riz Ahmed) packs them in a car and sets off on a perilous journey across the western U.S. But while racing toward a secret military base in Nevada that may hold the key to safety, the trio encounters danger at every turn. Staying one step ahead of a group of government agents, Malik and the boys find themselves bonding in unexpected ways. As their relentless pursuers close in, and with time quickly running out, each of them must confront hard truths about the world, forcing Jay and Bobby to leave their childhoods behind. A gripping story of a father’s mission to keep his children safe at all costs, Encounter is at once a riveting thriller and a powerful drama about a family dealing with a seemingly unstoppable enemy.
Directed by Michael Pearce (Beast) from a script by Joe Barton (The Ritual, “Giri/Haji”) and Michael Pearce, Encounter stars Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal, “The Night Of ”), Octavia Spencer (The Help, Hidden Figures), Rory Cochrane (Argo, Hostiles), Janina Gavankar (The Way Back, “The Morning Show”), Lucian-River Chauhan (“Heartland,” “Gabby Duran & the Unsittables”) and Aditya Geddada. The film is produced by Derrin Schlesinger (American Animals, The Nest), Piers Vellacott (Dream Horse, Three Identical Strangers) and Dimitri Doganis (American Animals, Three Identical Strangers). Executive producers are Fred Berger (La La Land, “Bad Education”), Kate Churchill (Spotlight, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made), Jenny Hinkey (Holidate, Eli), Daniel Battsek (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; Widows), Ollie Madden (The Informer, The Father), Julia Oh (Rocks, Limbo), Zander Levy (“Industry,” “Harley and the Davidsons”) and Katherine Butler (Frank, American Animals).
The director of photography is Benjamin Kračun (Promising Young Woman, Beast). Production designer is Tim Grimes (You Were Never Really Here, Sleepless). Costume designer is Emma Potter (Creed, “True Detective”). Casting is by Avy Kaufman (“Mare of Eastown,” “Succession”). The editor is Maya Maffioli (Rocks, Beast). Music is by Jed Kurzel (The Babadook, Slow West). [Amazon Studios]
