Watching Proximity Is An Odd Experience

Proximity is one of the strangest science fiction movies I have ever seen. It defies all expectations, makes many strange choices, and has a very good grasp of visual storytelling and visual composition—and yet is kind of bad.

At first, the movie seems to be clear on what it is: a tale of classic alien abductions and maybe even first contact. The first few minutes after the dramatic cold open reminded me of a more indie take on Arrival.

But then the story twists into a surprisingly strange satire of American media, and even that is good, with poignant scenes of what the internet and modern culture is like.

Proximity Is Pretty Good Film For A Small Bit There

But then another shocking twist happens. The movie proceeds to go absolutely insane and never recovers. Proximity only gets stranger and more unbelievable as the story goes. I’d almost call it a surreal arthouse film, but even that style is shunted for something else.

Proximity is entertaining, however. As the story goes, by the nature of its presentation, it keeps you guessing and holds you on your toes. In even that though, it’s sloppy. So many niggling issues stack on top of a scatterbrained presentation that it undermines itself again.

Proximity Misses Any Of Its Potential Constantly

For one, the acting is middling to bad. Everyone has an almost detached way of communicating, almost like they know they are in a film. This is especially pronounced when a character delivers an unbroken monologue that is below even high school philosophy but is shot with all the gravitas of some blockbuster drama. There’s also an extended scene of people listening to music that goes a little too long and becomes pace destroying.

At least it’s nice to look at sometimes. The movie has amazing locations for filming, so gorgeous you’d swear they shot there for the express purpose of a nice vacation.

Proximity At The Very Least Looks Really Cool

And then there are the special effects. My god, the effects. This movie nails the look of classic gray aliens and has impressive scenes of alien technology, lasers in mid-path, and a whole host of aggressively stunning visuals only hampered by the few practical effects and sets that turn action moments into the cheesiest scenes of new Doctor Who, only much less endearing.

All added up, I cannot tell you if I liked Proximity. I certainly can’t tell you if you would like Proximity. It’s like four films in one and seems to have an amazing budget in some scenes and a god-awful one in another. The script, the dialogue, the plot, it’s scattered and strange.

I don’t even know if I would be excited to watch something else from the director. Proximity is two hours of your life I leave up to you if you’re willing to burn them.

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