Proximity (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Isaac is abducted because he has been specifically selected by the aliens, much like Carl was in 1979. The aliens have been studying humans for some time, and they place trackers on certain individuals to monitor them. Isaac's encounter in the woods is not random, it appears the aliens have been observing him before the actual abduction, as evidenced by his subsequent injuries and the tracker they embed in his arm.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Isaac notices patterns of alien life appearing throughout history, suggesting these abductions follow a specific selection criteria.

• isaac abduction
• alien selection
• alien tracker
• extraterrestrial contact

The alien trackers are small devices embedded under the skin that allow the aliens and their human collaborators to monitor the abductees' locations. The government reveals that both Isaac and Sara carry these trackers, which explains how the Men in Black are able to track them so precisely throughout the film. Carl later demonstrates how to disable these trackers, providing a brief window of safety.

Foreshadowing: Isaac experiences strange sensations and notices he's being watched before the full truth about the trackers is revealed.

• alien tracker
• body implant
• government tracking
• isaac tracker
• sara tracker

The government, represented by Agent Graves and the Men in Black, is attempting to contain information about extraterrestrial contact. After Isaac's video goes viral, the authorities become concerned about public panic and want to control the narrative. They also want to study the abductees and extract information about the aliens. Isaac refuses to cooperate, which leads to his and Sara's capture attempt and subsequent escape.

Foreshadowing: The viral video drawing media attention sets off the government's involvement, as they immediately move to intercept Isaac.

• men in black
• agent graves
• government cover-up
• extraterrestrial conspiracy

When the aliens finally arrive and make contact, they reveal their purpose: they have been studying humanity and have concluded that Jesus Christ plays a crucial role in the universe's creation. This is the central revelation of the film, essentially the aliens' reason for both observing and eventually intervening with humanity. The specifics of their theological belief are not fully detailed, but it represents the culmination of their long observation period.

Foreshadowing: Isaac and Sara's investigation into historical alien contacts builds toward this revelation, suggesting the aliens have been studying human religious history.

• aliens
• jesus
• creation
• universe
• extraterrestrial religion
• alien philosophy

Isaac develops latent telekinetic and chronokinetic powers following the removal of his alien tracker. When his tracker is extracted at the cabin, these abilities suddenly activate, allowing him to move objects and manipulate time briefly. This ability emerges at the critical moment when Sara and Carl have been shot and he needs to save himself and the others. The powers seem to be something the aliens may have been dormant within him, or perhaps a side effect of their experimentation.

Foreshadowing: The scene where Isaac wakes by the water with strange injuries hints that the aliens performed some kind of procedure on him during abduction.

• isaac powers
• telekinesis
• chronokinesis
• alien abilities
• latent powers

Agent Graves has a personal connection to Carl that is revealed during the cabin confrontation. Graves presses Carl for answers about his father's death, suggesting Carl possesses information about what happened to Graves' father, possibly related to the earlier government or alien investigations. Carl refuses to answer and is shot, indicating the information Carl holds is significant enough to kill for. The exact details of the father's death remain somewhat ambiguous, but it ties the two characters together beyond the immediate alien situation.

Foreshadowing: The tension between Graves and Carl hints at a deeper history that predates the current events.

• carl
• agent graves
• father death
• personal vendetta
• government plot

After the Men in Black shoot Carl and Sara, the aliens intervene directly. They use their technology to rescue the wounded Sara and Carl, destroying the cabin in the process. The aliens then provide the survivors with escape via their flying saucer. This intervention marks a shift from passive observation to active protection of their human subjects, as the aliens seemingly decide their study subjects must be saved from the human government forces.

Foreshadowing: The aliens' stated purpose of studying humanity suggests they would not allow their test subjects to be killed by outside forces.

• alien rescue
• cabin escape
• flying saucer
• sara carl saved
• alien intervention

Zed is a hacker living in Costa Rica who has knowledge of a secret United Nations agency responsible for kidnapping abductees. He helps Isaac and Sara after their escape from the government, providing shelter and crucial information about the alien situation. His connection to the UN agency is not fully explained, but he clearly has prior knowledge of their operations and the broader conspiracy surrounding extraterrestrial contact.

Foreshadowing: Zed immediately knows about the UN agency's role when Isaac and Sara arrive, suggesting he has been involved in similar situations before.

• zed
• costa rica hacker
• un agency
• kidnapping ring
• conspiracy

In 1979, Carl, a lumberjack working in Alaska, was abducted by aliens and vanished from his normal life. This abduction sets the pattern for all subsequent abductions in the film. Carl's experience spans decades, he becomes elderly by the present day while having lived through the aftermath of his encounter. He possesses crucial knowledge about the aliens' intentions and how to disable their trackers, making him essential to Isaac and Sara's survival.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Carl's abduction, establishing that this phenomenon has been occurring for years.

• carl abduction 1979
• lumberjack
• alaska
• first contact
• elderly carl

Isaac uploads the video of his abduction because he wants to prove to the world that extraterrestrial contact is real. After waking by the water with mysterious injuries and no memory of what happened, he feels compelled to share his experience. The video goes viral almost immediately, drawing attention from news media, the public, and ultimately the government, creating the chain of events that drives the entire plot.

Foreshadowing: Isaac's video diary earlier in the film establishes his pattern of documenting his experiences publicly.

• viral video
• abduction footage
• internet
• media attention
• public proof

Sara is shot when she steps out of the cabin after Carl has been shot. Agent Graves is attempting to force Carl to cooperate by threatening and eliminating those around him. The shooting represents the government's desperate attempt to gain information about the aliens before their arrival. Both Carl and Sara are left wounded as the situation escalates, though the aliens subsequently rescue them.

Foreshadowing: The tension between the government and the abductees has been building since Isaac and Sara refused to cooperate.

• sara shot
• cabin shooting
• men in black
• agent graves violence
• hostage situation