Rim of the World 2019

In this pivotal moment of the film, Alex (Jack Gore), still grappling with the loss of his father in a fiery blaze, finds himself reluctantly immersed in the world of summer camp at Rim of the World. Alongside two other misfit souls - Zhen Zhen (Miya Cech), an enigmatic orphan girl from China who has brazenly bypassed borders to join the camp, and Dariush (Benjamin Flores Jr.), a charismatic young lad from a life of privilege - Alex forms an unlikely trio under the guidance of Logan (Andrew Bachelor). The group’s dynamics are put to the test when Alex’s fear of heights prevents him from participating in the zip line activity.

As the sun beats down, Zhen Zhen embarks on a solo excursion into the woods, driven by her determination to find the idyllic lookout point she spotted on a camp poster earlier. Meanwhile, Alex attempts to follow suit, only to stumble upon Dariush in a moment of private contemplation. In a misguided attempt to cure Alex’s phobia, Dariush coaxing him to stand precariously close to the edge of a cliff - an endeavour that is swiftly interrupted by Gabriel (Alessio Scalzotto), a mysterious camper who appears out of nowhere. Zhen Zhen, having overheard the commotion, reappears and joins her friends, just as they receive a series of ominous texts advising them to evacuate the area with all due haste.

As they hasten away from the danger zone, they are met with an otherworldly spectacle - a string of explosions in the upper atmosphere that signal the beginning of an unprecedented crisis. It soon becomes clear that these EMP bursts have crippled the global electrical grid, plunging humanity into darkness.

Their journey takes a surreal turn as they witness an armada of extraterrestrial vessels descending upon the valley, casting a sense of dread over their surroundings. The group hastily retreats to the relative safety of camp, only to find it eerily deserted - all except for the presence of Conrad, a wise and compassionate camp counselor.

In this moment of chaos, a dying astronaut emerges from a Dragon spacecraft that has crash-landed nearby, bearing a crucial message and a key. With his final breaths, he instructs Alex to deliver the key to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) facility in Pasadena, revealing it as humanity’s last hope for defeating their alien invaders.

As fate would have it, an extraterrestrial visitor materializes with its canine companion, cold-bloodedly eliminating the astronaut and leaving Alex and his friends to fend for themselves. With Conrad’s untimely demise serving as a stark reminder of the gravity of their situation, the trio must employ all their wits and resourcefulness to evade the marauding aliens and escape the camp.

In their quest for survival, Zhen Zhen proposes a plan that bypasses the need for an arduous journey to Pasadena, suggesting they hand the key over to a government official who will ensure its safe arrival at JPL.

As they navigate the dusty roads, the group stumbles upon an unexpected detour: a forgotten prisoner, Lou (Scott MacArthur), languishing in the sheriff’s office cells. Moved by Lou’s claim that he has a son anxiously awaiting his release, Alex takes pity and decides to set him free before resuming their journey towards JPL. Little do they know, this impromptu act of kindness will soon prove crucial.

Their path next intersects with a convoy of Marines evacuating civilians from the chaos unfolding around them. With gratitude, the commander accepts the key and transports the children to safety on a bus. However, as they make their way out of harm’s way, the group is confronted by an unexpected and deadly threat: alien ships descending upon the vehicle convoy, leaving the soldiers fallen. Amidst the carnage, Alex seizes the opportunity to reclaim the key from the dying commander and renews their quest for JPL.

As night begins to fall, the group takes refuge in a familiar haven - Gabriel’s old house. It is here that Gabriel reveals his troubled past, recounting how he was wrongly accused of theft at his mother’s store due to an unfortunate misunderstanding stemming from his dyscalculia. The group listens intently as Gabriel shares the painful truth about his circumstances.

The respite is short-lived, however, as a gang of masked assailants, led by none other than Lou, descends upon them. It becomes clear that Lou has been secretly manipulating events to get his hands on the key, which he intends to sell on the black market for a handsome profit. When Alex refuses to relinquish the key, Lou’s true intentions are revealed, and he attempts to strike down Alex with a knife. But just as Lou is about to deliver the fatal blow, an otherworldly presence emerges from the shadows, attacking them all.

In the ensuing chaos, Lou and his cohorts meet their demise, but not before they inadvertently provide the children with an opportunity to escape by trapping the extraterrestrial invader in a backyard swimming pool.

As Dariush and Gabriel navigate through the dense forest, their initial camaraderie gives way to a heated altercation between the two friends. The tension escalates as Dariush reveals the crushing truth about his family’s troubled past: his father’s business has gone bankrupt, leaving them on the brink of financial ruin and potentially landing him in jail. This revelation sheds new light on why Dariush was sent to camp, a mere temporary reprieve from the impending doom that looms over his family.

Meanwhile, the duo receives an urgent distress call via their transmitter, this time from the doctor at JPL, where they were instructed to deliver the key. The message is a clarion call to action, urging them to press on with their perilous journey. As if responding to this summons, they make a pit stop at a nearby mall, where they exchange their worn attire for fresh, new clothes.

Undeterred by the perils that lie ahead, they commandeer a sleek Ford Mustang in the parking lot and set off once more, driven by Zhen Zhen’s unexpected proficiency behind the wheel. However, their progress is short-lived, as they’re once again ambushed by the relentless alien pursuer. In a desperate bid to escape, they abandon the vehicle, only to realize that they’ve left the key behind. Dariush, undaunted by the risk, attempts a solo retrieval mission, narrowly escaping with his life and the precious key in tow.

Their arrival at JPL is met with tragedy: upon entering the facility, they find the doctor’s lifeless body, and the distress signal was merely the result of his blood dripping onto his transmitter. The trio must regroup and reassess their situation, as they establish radio contact with a general at NORAD. The general explains that the key holds the secrets to destroying the alien mothership in orbit, via the Cold War-era defense project known as Excalibur.

As Zhen Zhen ventures into the basement to activate the emergency generators, she’s confronted by an extraterrestrial canine. Meanwhile, Alex ascends to the roof to realign the communication dish, only to be set upon by the alien itself. Despite these setbacks, Zhen Zhen manages to trap the dog in the basement and returns to join Gabriel and the injured Dariush in inserting the key that will launch the Excalibur weapon.

With the fate of humanity hanging precariously in the balance, the teens make a hasty retreat from JPL, while Alex lures the alien into an engine test room, where it meets its demise via the exhaust. As the dust settles, they gaze up at the sky, witnessing the triumphant destruction of the alien mothership.

In the aftermath, Alex is reunited with his mother, and the trio of young heroes is hailed for their bravery and ingenuity, their names etched in history as a testament to the indomitable spirit of youth.