Project Ithaca

Project Ithaca

Year: 2019

Runtime: 85 min

Language: English

Director: Nicholas Humphries

Echo Score: 52

Budget: $5M

Sci-FiThriller

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!

Haven’t seen Project Ithaca yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Project Ithaca (2019)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Project Ithaca (2019). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

20th to 21st century

The movie spans various moments in time from the 20th to the 21st century, showcasing humanity's ongoing fascination and fear surrounding extraterrestrial life and technology. This period is marked by significant technological advancements and the cultural impact of events like the Roswell incident, shaping public perception and conspiracy theories about aliens.

Location

Secretive government laboratory, UFO orbiting Earth

The secretive government laboratory is a high-security facility overseen by the U.S. War Department, where advanced research and alien technology are explored. It serves as the birthplace of Sera, the unique girl with telepathic abilities. The UFO is a colossal vessel orbiting Earth, holding a diverse group of humans captive, each subjected to alien experimentation, reflecting humanity's fear of the unknown.

🔬 Laboratory 👽 UFO

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:34

Main Characters – Project Ithaca (2019)

Meet the key characters of Project Ithaca (2019), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

John Brighton (James Gallanders)

John Brighton is a dedicated researcher who shows immense concern for Sera's well-being. Committed and resourceful, he strives to protect her from the alien influences and tries to devise a plan for their escape. His character embodies the complexities of love, duty, and the moral dilemmas in dire situations.

👨‍🔬 Researcher ❤️ Protector

Sera (Deragh Campbell)

Sera is a unique human-alien hybrid with extraordinary telepathic abilities. Crafted through unexplained circumstances during the Roswell incident, she holds the key to interfacing with the alien technology. Despite her frail health, she displays immense courage and selflessness, ultimately sacrificing her safety for the freedom of others.

👽 Hybrid 💫 Brave

Zack Chase (Alex Woods)

Zack Chase is a well-known musician who characterizes the struggles faced by those wrongfully accused. His mysterious circumstances of disappearance put him at the center of a tragic narrative that highlights themes of injustice and the emotional toll of alienation from loved ones.

🎸 Musician 🕵️‍♂️ Mysterious

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:34

Major Themes – Project Ithaca (2019)

Explore the central themes of Project Ithaca (2019), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌌 Alien Encounters

The theme of alien encounters is central to the narrative, exploring humanity's connection to extraterrestrial beings and the subsequent consequences of such interactions. The film examines how these encounters can lead to both enlightenment and peril, emphasizing the duality of fear and curiosity about the unknown.

💔 Sacrifice

Sacrifice emerges as a poignant theme, illustrated by Sera's willingness to risk her life for the freedom of others. Her decision to connect with the spaceship puts her life on the line, underscoring the emotional weight of selflessness and the burdens carried by those chosen to bear the consequences.

🔗 Connection

Interpersonal and telepathic connections define much of the film's emotional landscape. The bond between Sera and John, and Sera's connection to the alien technology, highlight how relationships can traverse physical and temporal confines, revealing the depth of human emotion in the face of isolation.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:34

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

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.

Claustrophobic psychological thrillers like Project Ithaca

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.

claustrophobicanxiousparanoiddesperatemysteriousoppressivepsychological

Narrative Summary

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.

Why These Movies?

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.

Movies where emotion is power like Project Ithaca

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.

melancholicmysteriousoppressivethought-provokingexistentialdesperatebleak

Narrative Summary

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.

Why These Movies?

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.

Unlock the Full Story of Project Ithaca

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.

Project Ithaca Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Project Ithaca, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Project Ithaca Summary

Project Ithaca Timeline

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.

Project Ithaca Timeline

Project Ithaca Spoiler-Free Summary

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.

Project Ithaca Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Project Ithaca

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.

More About Project Ithaca

Similar Movies to Project Ithaca

Discover movies like Project Ithaca that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.