Proximity

Right now you can watch Proximity in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Shout! Factory Amazon Channel — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Ryan Masson's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Proximity is worth clearing space for. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Proximity through its more ambitious moments. A young NASA JPL scientist is abducted by extraterrestrials but when no one believes his story he becomes obsessed with finding proof which leads him on a journey of discovery. Ryan Masson and Highdee Kuan lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2020. The world-building is meticulous enough to sustain multiple rewatches, with details early on that only make sense later. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Proximity fits the bill. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Ryan Masson grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.