Proximity (Movie Review)

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

PLOT: When a dorky kid (Ryan Masson) encounters an alien while out on a hike, he must go on a soulful journey to prove the existence of extraterrestrial life.

LOWDOWN: Though I was intrigued by the trailer for PROXIMITY (WATCH IT HERE), I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the first-time director Eric Demeusy (read our interview). As an accomplished effects artist, I figured I’d at least get to enjoy a feast for the eyes even if things like character development and story structure would fall by the wayside. I’m not trying to be a downer here, but I've concluded that what I consider brilliant sci-fi doesn’t coincide with what hits big at the box office. Somehow JURASSIC WORLD makes over a billion dollars, but BLADE RUNNER 2049 bombs and is considered universally boring? *sigh* I need a drink. Much to my surprise, PROXIMITY ended up being a character-driven journey with an optimistic approach, and classic science fiction straight out of ‘80s era Spielberg. As they say, never assume.

PROXIMITY is not a quick-cut type of film but instead lets everyone and everything breath. It’s not until the forty-minute mark that it becomes clear who the bad guy is and what the hero needs to do. This kind of old-school pacing matches the overall tone, even if the runtime is a little longer than I might expect in the current sci-fi landscape. I’m so used to a wham-bam type of story building that I was happy for the opportunity to sit back, get some sun, and watch things naturally develop. Major props to Demeusy for pulling off a type of science fiction that is rarely done these days. We’re not here to see the world end or watch a battle with an enemy far beyond our comprehension. PROXIMITY is about communication with a race of beings whose intelligence vastly surpasses ours. Themes of personal growth and connection had me cheering the entire time.

A film as only as good as its lead, and I’m happy to say Masson does a damn believable job as the science-obsessed Isaac. He doesn’t look like a typical leading man, and I find it refreshing to see someone that’s not a f*cking model in this type of role. As much as I can defend aspects of the Marc Webb period of SPIDER-MAN, Andrew Garfield was way too cool and good-looking for Peter Parker. That mistake was not made here, and I believed Masson as Isaac from the very beginning. About the characters, Zed (Christian Prentice) is the comic relief, as the hacker who's just along for the ride and ends up stealing the spotlight more than a few times. Though a bit unbelievable as the man that can do anything when the script demands, Prentice plays the role with enough charm and charisma that I was willing to give the character a pass and go with the flow. Rounding out our trio is the beautiful and broken soul of Sara (Highdee Kuan), who won me over as the depressed introvert. She goes through the same experience as Isaac but whereas he sticks to his guns to prove himself, she comes out defeated and cynical – my kind of character. As a whole, these three are the heart of the film. Like a sci-fi GOONIES, it's a diverse group of dorky characters going on a mystical adventure.

Story-wise, this isn’t breaking any new ground; the plot beats are all textbook. The 50s esque aliens, with their enormous eyes and slim grey bodies, arrive in old-school flying saucers. PROXIMITY is a throw-back to the Gene Roddenberry tales of exploration and growth. It borders on cheesy at times, but the focus on philosophical concepts and the human need for something greater won me over. I’m a sucker for this type of Next Generation sci-fi and was glad to see it done in such a respectable way. Take notes, Alex Kurtzman. TAKE NOTES. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a threat. A shadow government operation run by Agent Graves (Shaw Jones) wants Isaac and his friends kidnapped, studied, and killed. They even have robot henchmen, a nod to the great Captian EO. So when the story needs to get intense to keep us on our toes, we have these formidable adversaries to contend with, but the main focus is always on the journey to communicating with the aliens.

There are a few drawbacks. It's clear that the creators had a grand plan for the story, but the budget was sometimes too limited to hit home. Nothing jarred me out of the story, but better immersion would have gone a long way. Also, there were a few scenes that didn't land, where the dialogue was either too campy, or the actors lacked the skills to sell it. Nothing that was make or break for me, but if you're not already deeply invested in the story, it may turn you off. There is a small twist of information that gets somewhat spiritual that may turn some off. It's clunky even if the intention is something that could have worked in a different film. This didn't bother me, but I have a feeling this will cause a divide.

GORE: Nope. This isn’t about blood and gore. As much as I like the red stuff, it would have felt out of place.

BOTTOM LINE: PROXIMITY sports a heartfelt story that harkens back to the science fiction of the ‘80s and early ‘90s. It exceeded my expectations and was an overall joy to experience. The spirituality was a bit out of left field, and the dialogue was a hit or miss at times, but the chemistry between the three actors salvages a lot. Eric Demeusy is a new face among directors, but you wouldn’t know it based on his savvy in bringing sci-fi to this format. His passion and care for the genre are evident, and he will do wonders with a bigger budget. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does next. In a time of great cynicism, PROXIMITY is the beacon of hope we need.