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Timeline

Project Ithaca (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 85 min · English
Echo score 52
JustWatch #10,636 18
Directed by
Nicholas Humphries
Starring
James Gallanders, Ayesha Mansur Gonsalves, Alex Woods, Caroline Raynaud, Daniel Fathers, Deragh Campbell
Budget
$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.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Project Ithaca
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Project Ithaca (2019)

Where can you watch Project Ithaca? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Tubi TV, Xumo Play and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Project Ithaca Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Project Ithaca (2019) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Introduction of Sera

    The film begins in a secretive government laboratory where we are introduced to Sera, a mysterious young girl. She possesses extraordinary telepathic abilities that allow her to communicate with alien technology retrieved from the Roswell UFO incident.

    Where
    Government Laboratory
  2. Sera's Health Declines

    As Sera interacts with the alien device, it becomes clear that her health is deteriorating. Her experiences on the computer monitor reveal the significant toll these interactions are taking on her well-being.

    Where
    Government Laboratory
  3. John Brighton's Intervention

    In a moment of urgency, a dedicated researcher named John Brighton intervenes to rescue Sera from her dangerous situation. His efforts demonstrate his commitment to understanding Sera's unique abilities and saving her life.

    Where
    Government Laboratory
  4. Capture Aboard the UFO

    The narrative shifts to a diverse group of humans who find themselves trapped aboard a UFO orbiting Earth. Each individual is restrained by menacing harnesses held together by black tentacles, symbolizing their confinement and vulnerability.

    Where
    UFO Orbiting Earth
  5. Humans' Emotional Struggle

    As the captives experience a range of emotions, the UFO exploits their feelings to harvest energy. When their emotional responses fail to meet the ship's expectations, larger tentacles are deployed to intensify the connection, forcibly drawing out their emotions.

    Where
    UFO Orbiting Earth
  6. The Abduction Revelation

    It is revealed that each human on the ship was abducted at various points throughout history, spanning the 20th and 21st centuries. This backstory adds layers to the characters' circumstances and highlights the forces at play in this timeless limbo.

    Where
    UFO Orbiting Earth
  7. Sera as a Human-Alien Hybrid

    Sera emerges as a pivotal character, a human-alien hybrid conceived during the Roswell incident when her mother was exposed to alien spores. Her unique powers position her as a beacon of hope for the group held captive.

    Where
    UFO Orbiting Earth
  8. Zack's Backstory

    Among the captives is Zack, a renowned musician whose mysterious disappearance has led to his girlfriend being wrongfully accused of his murder. His presence in the group underscores the tragic consequences of their abduction.

    Where
    UFO Orbiting Earth
  9. Sera and John's Plan

    Faced with dire circumstances, Sera and John devise a plan to free the captives. Utilizing Sera's ability to interface with the ship, they form a flicker of hope for their eventual rescue, despite the significant risks involved.

    Where
    UFO Orbiting Earth
  10. Sera's Sacrifice

    In a brave moment, Sera chooses to risk her own life to free the group. Despite John's desperate pleas for her to reconsider, she remains determined, showcasing her strong character and the depth of her resolve.

    Where
    UFO Orbiting Earth
  11. Return to Earth

    With Sera still connected to the ship's computer, the group successfully returns to Earth. Their journey symbolizes a hard-won victory against the forces that sought to keep them captive.

    Where
    Earth
  12. Arrival of the Alien Fleet

    Eventually, the ship unlocks a gateway for a larger alien fleet to arrive in Earth's solar system. This moment hints at the larger implications of their encounter with the mysterious alien technology.

    Where
    Earth's Solar System
  13. Mid-Credits Scene

    In an intriguing mid-credits scene, Sera attempts to make contact with John through the computer monitor. Although she reaches out across time, her efforts to connect with him ultimately fail, leaving a haunting sense of longing.

    Where
    Earth

Last updated: November 04, 2024 at 01:29

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Timeline questions answered

Project Ithaca Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Project Ithaca (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why can Sera interface with alien technology?

Sera is a human-alien hybrid conceived during the Roswell incident when her mother was exposed to alien spores. This unique origin gives her extraordinary telepathic abilities that allow her to directly communicate with and control alien technology, something no ordinary human can do.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Sera typing her experiences on a computer while interacting with alien devices, hinting at her extraordinary connection.

  • sera
  • hybrid
  • alien
  • roswell
  • telepathy
  • abilities
Q2

How does the alien ship harvest fear?

The UFO uses black tentacles connected to harnesses on each captive. When captives experience fear, anxiety, or emotional distress, the ship converts that emotional energy into power. If emotional responses are too weak, larger tentacles envelop the captives' heads, creating direct telepathic connections to forcibly extract stronger emotional reactions.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene establishes that the ship feeds on emotional states, foreshadowing the psychological torment to come.

  • fear
  • harvest
  • ship
  • energy
  • tentacles
  • emotions
Q3

Why are the captives abducted from different time periods?

The alien ship has been abducting humans for decades, possibly centuries, pulling people from various points in the 20th and 21st centuries. The ship exists in a timeless limbo where time functions differently, allowing captives from different eras to coexist aboard the vessel.

Foreshadowing: The revelation that Zack's disappearance led to his girlfriend being wrongfully accused establishes that abductions have been happening for years.

  • abduction
  • time
  • timeline
  • centuries
  • limbo
Q4

Why does Sera's sacrifice bring the alien fleet?

When Sera remains connected to the ship's computer to open the gateway for the captives' escape, her unique hybrid consciousness inadvertently triggers a larger unlock. This action, while freeing the group, simultaneously activates a pathway that allows a massive alien fleet to enter Earth's solar system.

Foreshadowing: Sera's ability to interface with the ship in both present and past foreshadows her connection runs deeper than simple communication.

  • sera
  • sacrifice
  • fleet
  • escape
  • computer
  • gateway
Q5

What happened to Zack's girlfriend after his abduction?

Zack, a renowned musician, disappeared mysteriously, and his girlfriend was wrongfully accused of his murder. She faced legal consequences for a crime she did not commit, all because Zack had been abducted by the aliens.

Foreshadowing: Zack's presence among the captives establishes his disappearance was not voluntary.

  • zack
  • musician
  • girlfriend
  • accusation
  • disappearance
Q6

What is the source of Sera's telepathic abilities?

Sera's telepathic powers stem from her unique origin as a human-alien hybrid. Her mother was exposed to alien spores during the Roswell UFO incident, which somehow resulted in Sera's conception. This hybrid biology grants her the ability to communicate with alien technology and connect with the ship mentally.

Foreshadowing: The government laboratory scenes show Sera's health deteriorating as she interacts with alien devices, indicating the strain of her extraordinary abilities.

  • sera
  • telepathy
  • hybrid
  • roswell
  • abilities
  • spores
Q7

Why is John Brighton abducted if he was a researcher?

John Brighton is a dedicated researcher who worked with Sera in the government laboratory, trying to understand her abilities and save her life. However, he is also abducted and held aboard the UFO, suggesting the aliens take anyone they capture indiscriminately, regardless of their connection to previous abductions.

Foreshadowing: John's intervention to save Sera from her deteriorating condition shows his deep involvement, making his subsequent abduction more impactful.

  • john
  • brighton
  • researcher
  • abduction
  • laboratory
Q8

What is the significance of the Roswell incident in the film?

The Roswell UFO incident is pivotal because it's where Sera's mother was exposed to alien spores, resulting in Sera's conception as a human-alien hybrid. The alien technology retrieved from Roswell is what the government has been studying, and it's directly connected to Sera's unique abilities and the current abduction scenario.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Sera interacting with alien technology from Roswell, establishing this event's central importance.

  • roswell
  • ufo
  • incident
  • spores
  • technology
Q9

What happens in the mid-credits scene?

In the mid-credits scene, Sera, still connected to the alien ship's computer, attempts to reach across time to contact John through a computer monitor. Despite her efforts, she fails to establish contact, leaving a haunting sense of longing and uncertainty about her fate.

Foreshadowing: Sera's sacrifice and remaining connected to the ship sets up this final attempt at communication.

  • mid-credits
  • scene
  • sera
  • john
  • contact
  • time
Q10

Why do the tentacles tighten when captives try to resist?

The black tentacles respond to resistance by tightening the harnesses, punishing attempts at escape or defiance. This mechanism forces captives into submission, making resistance more painful and discouraging further rebellion against the ship's control.

Foreshadowing: The initial capture scene demonstrates this punishing response immediately.

  • tentacles
  • harness
  • resistance
  • pain
  • control
  • punishment

Movie threads

More Movies Like Project Ithaca, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Project Ithaca tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

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.

  • claustrophobic
  • anxious
  • paranoid
  • desperate
  • mysterious
  • oppressive
  • Tone: dark, tense, oppressive
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: 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 they belong together: 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.

  • melancholic
  • mysterious
  • oppressive
  • thought-provoking
  • existential
  • desperate
  • Tone: dark, melancholic, thought-provoking
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: 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 they belong together: 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.

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Every angle

Project Ithaca (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Project Ithaca in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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