Year: 2019
Runtime: 85 min
Language: English
Director: Nicholas Humphries
Echo Score: 52Budget: $5M
Five strangers find themselves imprisoned aboard an alien spacecraft where they discover a terrifying purpose: the vessel harvests humanity's fear as a power source. As they struggle to understand their captivity, they uncover a dark secret about decades – perhaps centuries – of human abductions. Facing their worst nightmares, the captives must find a way to survive and confront the sinister forces controlling them.
Warning: spoilers below!
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The film kicks off in a secretive government laboratory overseen by the U.S. War Department, where we meet a mysterious young girl named Sera. She possesses extraordinary telepathic abilities that allow her to engage with alien technology retrieved from the infamous Roswell UFO incident. As she types her experiences on a computer monitor, it becomes evident that her interactions with the alien device are taking a toll on her health. In a moment of urgency, a dedicated researcher named John Brighton steps in to rescue her from impending doom.
The narrative then transitions to a diverse assembly of humans confined aboard a UFO orbiting Earth. This group is held captive, each member restrained by a menacing harness held by black tentacles that tighten with their every attempt to resist. As their emotional states fluctuate, the ship harnesses their energy, but when their responses fall short of expectations, the situation worsens. The ship reacts by deploying larger tentacles that envelop their heads, forging a direct telepathic connection and coaxing them into emotional responses.
As the plot unfolds, we learn that each human was abducted at various points in history, spanning from the 20th to the 21st century. Sera emerges as a crucial character; she is a human-alien hybrid, conceived during the Roswell incident while her mother was exposed to alien spores, giving her unique powers. Unbeknownst to the group, they are in a timeless limbo, having been reported missing back on Earth. Among them is Zack, a well-known musician whose mysterious disappearance resulted in his girlfriend being wrongfully accused of his murder.
Faced with the dire circumstances, Sera and John devise a plan. Sera’s unique ability to interface with the ship both in the present and the past offers a flicker of hope for rescue. However, this comes at a cost—her own life. In a moment of bravery, she chooses to free the group, despite John’s desperate pleas for her to reconsider. They manage to return to Earth, making their way toward a distant city, while Sera remains directly connected to the ship’s computer. It is through her that the ship unlocks the gateway for a larger alien fleet, which subsequently arrives in Earth’s solar system.
In an intriguing mid-credits scene, Sera tries to make contact with John through the computer monitor, reaching out across time to connect with him but unfortunately fails in her attempts.
Last Updated: November 04, 2024 at 01:29
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Characters confined in terrifying spaces, battling inner demons under extreme pressure.If you enjoyed the intense, confined setting and psychological torment of Project Ithaca, explore these movies where characters are trapped and must use their wits to survive against overwhelming odds. These similar sci-fi and thriller stories focus on the fragility of the mind under extreme pressure.
Stories in this thread typically place a small group of individuals in a sealed, often hostile environment. The plot unfolds as they unravel the nature of their confinement while their psychological states deteriorate. The central conflict is as much internal—fighting panic, paranoia, and past trauma—as it is external against a mysterious captor or system.
These movies are grouped together because they share a core experience of confinement-induced dread. They prioritize a dark, oppressive tone, high psychological intensity, and a steady pacing that methodically builds suspense. The focus is on survival through mental fortitude rather than physical action.
Stories where human feelings are harvested, weaponized, or have tangible power.If you liked the core concept of Project Ithaca, where fear is harvested as fuel, you'll enjoy these movies that explore the idea of human emotion as a tangible, supernatural force. Discover similar sci-fi and horror stories about beings that feed on feelings or use them as weapons.
The narrative pattern involves the discovery that emotions have a physical or energetic reality. Protagonists become targets or tools for others who understand this power. The journey often involves resisting exploitation, understanding the mechanics of this emotional energy, and sometimes harnessing it themselves, usually at a great personal cost.
These films share a central, high-concept premise that redefines human emotion. They blend sci-fi or horror with deep psychological exploration, resulting in a dark tone and heavy emotional weight. The stories are thought-provoking, examining vulnerability and sacrifice through a unique speculative lens.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Project Ithaca in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Project Ithaca is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Project Ithaca with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Project Ithaca. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Project Ithaca that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Project Ithaca: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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