Pointless. First 10 minutes and you think, "YES!" then nothing.. then it just evaporates into 2 brats and a dad with some kind of problem-to not spoil it. I wish I had done something else.
Those poor actors really acted their booty's off- but a flop is a flop.

When you watch the trailer and even the first few minutes of this it comes off like an interesting sci-fi movie.
It starts building and then it immediately turns into a movie about PTSD, mental psychoses and kidnapping.
It becomes something so far from what you were expecting and wanting it to be that it leaves you frustrated and feeling like a huge waste of time. I suppose if they labeled it a movie about military PTSD, mental illness and kidnapping, not many would of even bothered watching it. However, since they made it look like a sci-fi movie, people bothered watching it, but were left pissed that they did.

I do not like movies about mental sickness and was kind of roped into this one.

This was almost 2 hours of my life I will never get back. The acting was fine. The story line depressing because it is such an accurate portrayal of the incompetence and absurdity of a failed legal system . Whose job in our society is to generate revenue. Not justice. Dressed like stormtroopers and Hitlers Nazi SS modern law enforcement is depicted accurately .They arrest a veteran and send him to prison for a fist fight creating a would be monster. Then are portrayed as some sort of would be heroes going after a person they created. And wrecklessly destroying innocent lives in the process. In the wake of all the police involved executions of the past year, cases like Petito where if they had done their job in Utah she might still be alive and the FBI losing her murderer and claiming he killed himself ,which most will never believe. This film could not come at a better time. We need to do better. This film accurately depicts why. That reason alone is enough to watch it.

The vague description of this film and the first half of it make it seem like there's a larger sci-fi nature to the film. Unfortunately, it's just a film about a conspiracy nut who kidnaps his kids.

One of the better films released this fall, ENCOUNTER is tension filled and not what it seems. If it weren’t for the foul language, this would be a great film for family viewing for those that like scary, twisty, alien stories with a strong family factor. Unfortunately, there is a regular peppering of expletives including an occasional f-bomb😡

The dad is ex-military and has issues. He takes his 2 young boys on a road trip that goes wrong. Convinced there is an alien factor, bad decisions are made which causes jeopardy for all three of them and a cross country pursuit ensues.

Good acting by all 3 family guys, plus the supporting cast, especially the parole officer. Beautiful western scenery and a good musical score add to the whole experience. Fast paced and no snoozy moments, recommended for 16+🍿

I never read reviews of movies before I watch them. Especially now, since the whole review "industry" has poisoned. Had I read the reviews for this one before viewing, I most likely would have missed this better than average to very good film. For the 1st 10 minutes or so, I totally believed the plot that was given and then almost immediately and without warning it flips the script and the whole story turns into something completely unexpected. RIZ AHMED ACTS HIS ASS OFF. When I 1st heard the "country boy" accent, I didn't think it fit with his character. But, after a few minutes I completely forgot about that little discrepancy and started to love his character.
Unlike most of the reviews, I appreciated having my expectations subverted here. Although, I would have loved to see more of the science fiction aspect of the film played out a little more.

A poignant story about mental illness that the father had endured. In the midst of his mental battle, he loved his boys and wanted to see them again before the demons within took him out. How his sons ended up being his saving grace. His older boy knew and told his dad that it was the demons inside him causing the problem. The end had me in tears. The entire ending from the cinematography, to the human kindness from the FBI in lowering their guns when realizing the son dropped his gun trying to protect his father and running into his fathers arms, the lighting from the helicopter above and of course the music track that tore my heart out. I cried. Just a beautiful story. 💞