Is Unacknowledged Any Good? Worth Your Time?

Humankind’s curiosity and imagination led to the discovery of many wonderful things. As soon as man became aware of outer space, rumours and theories have run high in regard to the ultimate question: do we share our universe with the non-human like creatures? Unacknowledged attempts to answer that question and in the process, reveals a deep, dark and alarming secret.

1. Quick review

The documentary, directed by Michael Mazzola, is a grim expositional tale of man’s knowledge of alien life. Unacknowledged is completely frank and very hard-hitting.

2. Info Card

3. Is it worth watching?

One of the most unromantic, fact-based documentaries about a subject that has been romanticised for years by science fiction authors, film directors and thrill-seeking people.

Unacknowledged Trailer #1 (2017) | Movieclips Indie

I. Plot

At the centre of the film’s narrative is Dr. Steven Greer. He started the Centre for Study of Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence with a goal of researching and finding alien civilisations in the universe. As a career ufologist, his main aim has been to let the people of the world know more about the years of research that has been done about alien life. However, world leaders, governments and influential politicians have been keeping secrets about extra-terrestrial visits and encounters. According to him, illegal space operations that have been going on since the 1950s, have produced sensitive results- so sensitive that they cannot be disclosed to the public.  

Greer began the Disclosure Project in 1993, a unique project where he would record government officials’ testimonies on UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) and other forms of alien life that governments had encountered but covered up. This, along with his book Unacknowledged: An expose of the World’s Greatest Secret, is the basis of the documentary.

The movie mentions the Roswell, New Mexico incident several times. In 1947, a large flying disc had crashed into a ranch in Roswell. While many, including ufologists and the public, believed it to be extra-terrestrial transportation, it was claimed to be a weather balloon by the US government at the time. Later, it was revealed that there was, indeed, a covert operation going on in New Mexico at the time but it involved nuclear arms testing and not research on alien life.

Years later, a few government officials who were involved in the cleaning up of the debris of the flying discs, came forward to say that they ‘believed’ that the Roswell incident was a coverup of illegal operations involving extra-terrestrials. Their claims prompted enquiries whose findings rubbished these claims. The documentary also professes a peculiar conspiracy theory. It states that Marilyn Monroe, the famous actress of the 50s and 60s, was murdered by the American government for knowing too much about such covert other-worldly operations and threatened to reveal everything.

This leads to the most absurd but thought-provoking claim made by the documentary. Steven Greer says that publicised UFO sightings, the curiosity and speculation by the public and, at the end, the legal offices covering it up, is all a part of a masterplan by the US government. These are ‘beta plans’ which lay the groundwork for the public’s belief in extra-terrestrial life. With years of testing, the government with the help of its’ shady branches, has developed technology powerful enough to fake an alien invasion. Together with electromagnetic weapons and drug-induced simulations, faking an alien invasion is totally possible. A global threat like an alien invasion is bound to rally the public behind the government and get rid of all opposition.

Despite having multiple claims that are serious and alarming, the movie falls short in one place- it does not provide any new information. The documents and files that were used in the film were declassified years ago. However, the claims are backed up with thorough research, even if the information is not new.

4. Characters and music

The documentary interviews many government officials and military personnel who were connected to the alleged operations of extra-terrestrial life which gives its claims a stronger and more foolproof foundation. The narration by Giancarlo Esposito is a plus-point of the film.

The original soundtrack of the film, composed by Jake Hull is another thing Unacknowledged gets right. Filled with suspense, the music is an apt score that matches the tone of the documentary.

5. Grade

6. Final thoughts

Out of hundreds of documentaries made on alien life, extra-terrestrial sightings and other-worldly creatures, Unacknowledged is the most well-rounded one of them. It is a great combination of realistic explanations and testimonies, along with far-reaching but possible conspiracy theories that could shake the world.

The fact that it focusses on Dr. Steven Greer, who has dedicated much of his life to finding alien lifeform and other people who were directly or indirectly connected to the government adds to its believability.