A seemingly ordinary rideshare turns into an extraordinary encounter.
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Review by Victoria Angelique:
ENCOUNTER sets itself up around a familiar setting that deals with the unpredictable nature of rideshare driving. The film takes place almost entirely inside of a car, which mirrors the everyday reality for many people that work for a rideshare company. The two characters, the driver and his passenger, explore themes of empathy and skepticism that all comes with a day’s work.
The film’s primary strength lies in its psychological tension and character contrast. The driver represents the everyday person that is hardworking but still a decent person that questions about dropping someone off in a strange location. The passenger is erratic as she attempts to prove her conspiracy theories to an unbeliever. The narrative relies heavily on this tension between believing sound logic or falling into the world of conspiracy when confronted with another person’s proof. The film is asking the audience if compassion and empathy still applies when someone appears crazy and could potentially put another person in danger. It queries if self perseveration should come before being a good person that worries about others.
The film uses props, like a notebook filled with bizarre formulas and incoherent text, to show how obsession can take over someone’s life. The passenger’s frantic belief creates the tension inside the car, forcing the viewer to decide whether the woman is simply mentally ill or telling the truth about an unexplained phenomenon.
ENCOUNTER transforms a simple rideshare commute into a world where instinct is pitted against societal norms. It examines the length someone should go for a job that requires helping a stranger, leaving the audience to question whether trusting a person that appears severely mentally ill is an act of foolishness or simple human empathy.
