The Encounter

Crime movies are a very appealing genre as they can often offer a deeper look at the complexity of the human condition while still showing a badass story. They can still provide plenty of action, but, at their core, what many of them really explore, is the human desperation or need to get out of a problematic situation. Such is the case of The Encounter.

The Encounter is a small crime drama that can be made for a low budget and that focuses on two characters – a bank robber who is trying to get back at the boss who betrayed him while searching for the money he hid before getting arrested, and the depressed widow he kidnaps. Now, while most movies would use these characters to create a love story, what The Encounter does is provide a darker look at what it would mean for someone like Kristin (the widow) to be dealing with a group of ruthless criminals who have no regard for human life. She is a person who no longer has a reason to live. She has moved to the middle of nowhere to not have to deal with anyone anymore, but can’t resist her own company either as she feels guilty for her husband’s death, and has even come to a point where she tried to kill herself. She is trying to get out of that situation and as Cobbs (the bank robber) begins to pay her for her help, she kind of starts thinking about taking advantage of that to get enough money and search for mental help… but, at the same time, as she deals with the people after Cobbs and is pushed to her limits, she also begins questioning herself what kind of person she is and if she is really willing to keep living with herself.

Therefore, even though The Encounter does have enough action sequences and some unexpected dark humor to work as an action piece, its true purpose is to explore the darkness of self-isolation, depression, and guilt. And it does so on a realistic tone that will lead to a rather grim ending, because, ultimately, crime life doesn’t pay and there is nothing romantic about it.

So, much like the 1970s New Hollywood dramas that inspired it, The Encounter will serve on two levels. One, as a minimalistic action movie that feels like a modern Western… and two, as a reflection of mental health and the way we fail to help people who are struggling with it.

A FEW REVIEWS...

"With "The Encounter", Jerzy comes back to one of his original interests, with stories about bounty hunters with a neo-noir flavor. This story opens with Cherry, a woman who looks like a lawyer, arriving at a remote Texas police station. She carries a gun, hinting at her intentions to engage in dangerous activities. Inside the station, Cherry meets Kristin Law, who is trying to retrieve her car from impound without success. Cherry's inquiry about making a report is interrupted when a group of deputies bring in Stephen Cobbs, a notorious bank robber resembling a modern-day outlaw. The tension escalates as Cherry and another visitor, Butch, are asked to leave because of the high-profile prisoner's arrival.

Cherry and Butch, however, reveal themselves to be more than mere visitors. A violent shootout erupts involving Cherry, Butch, the deputies, and eventually Cobbs himself, who despite being handcuffed, joins the fray, showcasing a setup of some sort amongst them. The narrative then splits, following Cherry, Butch, and Cobbs as they escape, and Kristin, who after a failed attempt to start her car, witnesses the chaos unfold and drives off. As the criminals make their getaway, the scene shifts to focus on Kristin's mundane yet troubled life, hinting at her deeper personal issues and her seemingly disconnected run-in with Cobbs at the station.

Meanwhile, Cherry, Butch, and Cobbs, injured and on the run, navigate their complicated relationships and plans, revealing double-crosses and shifting alliances. The screenplay interweaves their escape with Kristin's own struggles and run-ins with law enforcement, building to a climax that promises to converge these disparate story threads around the aftermath of the shootout and Cobbs' broader criminal activities.

The script deftly combines elements of action, crime, and personal drama, set against a stark Texas backdrop, creating a narrative ripe with tension and intrigue." - Wallachia International Film Festival