Riz Ahmed Is An Unlikely Hero In ENCOUNTER | Interview

Riz Ahmed, Lucian-River Chauhan, and Aditya Geddada in ENCOUNTER

“You don’t really see a family like this in a movie like this. This movie isn’t sci-fi, it’s now-fi.”

Alien invasion films arent new to the sci-fi genre, but over the past decade more and more of them have taken a nuanced approach to that style. More drama. More intrigue. Fewer explosions and smaller budgets. Encounter seeks to capture these moments and presents Riz Ahmed as an unlikely hero.

What is Encounter?

Riz Ahmed is Malik Khan, a Marine Corps veteran with PTSD haunting his life

Amazon Prime’s new sci-fi thriller Encounter introduces the audience to a Marine Corps veteran Malik Khan (Riz Ahmed) who must take his children on the run from the very military he served, all while a looming alien threat hangs in the background. With danger on every side, Khan must choose his children’s safety above his own.

This film inserts the familiar beats of the sci-fi genre into the world today. Riz Ahmed coins this film as “now-fi”. The world right now is segmented. There’s a fear of infections, nations are divided, people are afraid, and lines are drawn. Encounter draws parallels to the world around us today. Those parallels are uncomfortable and necessary and provide a harrowing watch that connects the audience to the world outside their home.

Encounter additionally provides a story that feels just as important as the main plot. A family road movie featuring characters that don’t look like average Americans. Ahmed lauded the film’s ambition at delivering that to the audience.

“You don’t normally see a family like this in a movie like this that feels fresh. This film is unique”

Riz stars alongside Lucian-River Chauhan and Aditya Geddada, names that most movie-going audiences have never heard of. In doing so, Encounter presents a psychological drama within a family facing different trials and obstacles than the average one. The risks feel bigger. The emotional baggage is heavier and the deck is stacked against them. All of these elements combine for a thrilling “now-fi” film that emphasizes the power of family in the midst of a world that turns against you.

Encounter will be available on Amazon Prime on December 10th, 2021.