Unaware (2012) Plot Summary Explained

Joe's grandfather was hiding the alien evidence in the shed. The shed contained old military technology and news clippings about the 1947 Roswell UFO incident, along with a sealed crate holding a dead alien. The grandfather had been protecting this secret for decades, which is why he always kept young Joe away from the backyard shed.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Joe tells Lisa that his grandfather always kept him away from the backyard shed when he was younger, foreshadowing the family secret.

• joe
• grandfather
• shed
• secret
• family

When Joe opened the large sealed crate, he discovered a flashing light and a lifeless alien. This was the culmination of the decades-long secret his grandfather had been keeping on the property, connected to the 1947 Roswell UFO incident.

Foreshadowing: The loud humming coming from behind the chained door built anticipation before the discovery.

• crate
• alien
• roswell
• discovery
• shed

Lisa was abducted by the aliens. After she broke her leg during the chaotic escape attempt, the aliens dragged her away as their spacecraft departed. The final shot shows something in a black plastic bag with tufts of hair protruding, suggesting either Lisa's remains or another victim was left behind.

Foreshadowing: The aliens' sudden appearance and pursuit directly led to Lisa's capture.

• lisa
• abduction
• aliens
• ending
• captured

The final shot shows something inside a black plastic bag with tufts of hair protruding from one corner. This grim image implies that the aliens left behind evidence of their encounter, possibly Lisa's body or another victim, as a haunting reminder of the tragedy that unfolded.

• black bag
• ending
• final shot
• mystery

Joe attempts to escape in his grandfather's classic Oldsmobile Cutlass but finds the steering wheel locked, preventing his escape. This mechanical failure adds to the sense of entrapment and helplessness as the alien encounter escalates.

• oldsmobile
• cutlass
• steering wheel
• locked
• escape

After a powerful force knocks Joe unconscious, the camera falls to the ground and one of the FBI agents steps on it, destroying the footage. This act suggests a cover-up, implying the authorities may have been complicit or had prior knowledge of the alien presence.

Foreshadowing: The FBI agents' earlier skepticism seems contradicted by their presence during the attack, hinting at a deeper involvement.

• fbi
• camera
• stepped
• cover-up
• destroyed

A powerful invisible force knocked Joe out while he was pleading with the FBI agents for help. The same force also incapacitated the agents themselves. This appears to be an alien ability or technology that the extraterrestrials used to silence witnesses and ensure their departure went unimpeded.

• force
• knocked out
• aliens
• unconscious
• power

Joe finds news clippings about the 1947 Roswell UFO incident in the shed alongside old military technology. This suggests the aliens or their craft have been stored on the grandparents' property since the famous Roswell crash, making the ranch a secret holding site for decades.

Foreshadowing: The Roswell clippings directly connect the historical UFO event to the current alien presence.

• roswell
• ufo
• aliens
• military
• connection

The FBI agent who arrived was skeptical and unconvinced by their account of the alien discovery. However, the agents later appeared at the property during the chaotic attack, suggesting they may have had prior knowledge of the alien presence or were monitoring the situation, contradicting their initial dismissal.

Foreshadowing: The agents' skepticism seems performative given their later presence during the attack.

• fbi
• agents
• disbelief
• skeptical
• arrival

Joe and Lisa found a note stating the grandparents were away for a couple of days when they arrived. They never return during the film. Their absence raises questions about whether their departure was coincidental or if they knew about the imminent alien activity and left Joe and Lisa vulnerable.

Foreshadowing: The note about the grandparents being away initially seems like a minor plot point but gains significance given what unfolds.

• grandparents
• away
• missing
• absent
• note