In possession of top-secret government information regarding an advancing alien invasion, a decorated war veteran races back to his former home to warn his estranged family of the impending danger. Believing his ex-wife to be already contaminated by the deadly inhuman threat, he flees the house with his two sons, embarking on a dangerous expedition to reach safety. A gripping fusion of speculative science fiction, paranoid thriller and unconventional road movie, Michael Pearce’s nail-biting sophomore feature is a bracingly unpredictable ride, consistently upending expectations and surprising at every turn. Yet, despite its otherworldly set-up, Encounter is at heart a deeply human story, driven by a powerful performance from Riz Ahmed as a man resolutely determined to protect his family, no matter what the cost.