Proximity (2020)

Proximity is the kind of smart, scrappy sci-fi that wins you over with craft: it looks far more expensive than it has any right to, pairing crisp cinematography with convincingly integrated effects that keep the impossible feeling just close enough to touch. Instead of chasing nonstop spectacle, it leans into a grounded, anxious vibe—part conspiracy thriller, part personal spiral—following a scientist whose need to be believed becomes its own gravitational pull. Director Eric Demeusy treats the material seriously, giving the film a polished, professional sheen and a sense of momentum that makes you want to keep watching for the next clue. If you need radically new mythology you may find some familiar notes, but if you’re on the fence and want a well-made, atmospheric abduction drama with real visual confidence, this is an easy bet.

Proximity is clearly aiming for a grounded, emotional abduction story—part indie sci-fi mystery, part paranoia thriller—about what happens when the world laughs at your “impossible” experience. The problem is the script leans so hard on familiar UFO/government-conspiracy beats that it starts to feel like a collage of better movies, with big ideas introduced and then not explored in a satisfying way. The pacing and storytelling can be clunky, and the characters often serve the plot more than they feel like real people making messy, believable choices. Still, it has a sincere tone, a few intriguing visuals, and just enough momentum to work if you’re forgiving of low-budget limitations and you mainly want a straightforward “I know what I saw” sci-fi ride rather than something fresh or deep.