Spoiler! "What" this movie is "about" :)

Spoiler. Spoiler. Spoiler.

1. Understand that this movie is not about three college students on a cross country trip gone wrong. This movie is about extraterrestrials who after following the a myriad of broadcast signals picked up in deep space, find at the source, Earth, and a sentient species with intellect capable of engineering space exploration, hence the aliens are obligated to learn our intentions for exploration, and our ability to empathize with peaceful, sentient life we may meet in our travels, no matter how grotesque, superior, or inferior we or it may be to the other.

2. The last thing any species can knowingly be allowed to do is "conquer" space beyond their own system. What follows in this "movie" is video documentation presented in the format that the aliens have found from all the signals broadcast from Earth, is the most common for this type of subject matter that humans are able to digest and comprehend: a movie. How else would it be relayed? In machine language dots and numbers? No. Damon has compiled every moment we see, intentionally, as documentation for how he was able to succeed finally, as well as for evidence to show by the actions and reactions of the subjects that the results are pure from any knowledge of the subjects that they every move, word, and even thoughts, are being monitored for a purpose that by definition, IS the purpose of any sentient species - if they pass.

3. The empirical reason for the tests and experiments are: evaluate the human species to determine if its capable of empathetic reasoning, to what levels, and how broadly in the species is the trait found.

4. Based on the context of human existence, determine precursors of behavior and interaction that identify individual subject who may be used as "benchmark" examples by which others can be compared for levels of empathetic reasoning that qualify such individuals to be enlightened to both the existence of ET life all around them, as well as the gift of technology that will allow the seeds of their species to be spread as far as these particular enlightened subjects are able to cast them, over the eons of time they will live as they travel in vessels and bodies that are made to withstand and thrive in the vastness of space.

5. The experiments have strict protocols. Subjects that are found to posses ideal examples of empathetic reasoning also must show the technology grafted to their bodies doesn't usurp the very empathetic reasoning that made them candidates in the first place.

6.The experimental methods and protocols will be improved as more is learned about the human condition.

7. Like all experiments, very detailed documentation of all knowable aspects of the experiment are key. Peer review, duplicating and repeating results, variations noted between differing subjects, etc... no detail is too small or omitted. In this case, the aliens posses technology that allows the subjects to be constantly monitored in real time without their knowledge, from inches or feet away. Also, the aliens are able to review the very thoughts of subjects and for the purposes of control, resets, or failures where enough is learned to merit another attempt by the same subject, memory implants and erasing.

8. No experiment is to be needlessly cruel, however, by nature of what is being determined, subjects will be intentionally induced into experiencing the gamut of negative internal emotions so their reactions can be cataloged.

9. Success is defined as a subject who maintains their standard level of empathetic reasoning after they have voluntarily engaged the full function of their grafts. Those who find their ego/id consumes their empathy after they experience the power of their grafts are a fail. Those who suffer from any prolonged or permanent mental derangement induced by any part of the experiment are a fail. Those who prematurely distinguish the nature of the experiment are a fail. Fails are subject to reset, or if incapacitated mentally to a point their delusions induce states of repeated or constant terror will be mercifully euthanized as painlessly as possible in a manner that avoids any contemplative despair.

10. Damon/Nomad shall oversee all aspects of interactions with the subjects. No subject is to be have any contact at any time with any other subject, nor any change to their environment, scenarios, or inducements there of, unless requested or directed by Nomad/Damon.

11. Nomad/Damon shall note any discrepancies that undermine the rationalizations subjects must have for the various scenarios induced during experimentation.

12. A detailed video/audio/mental recording of test subjects shall constantly be in effect.

and what we "see" is the relevant parts of the experiment that involved Nic, Jonah, and Haley. Every single scene is included by Damon for the record. Proof? Watch the movie from the perspective of one who Damon is reporting to instead of "you" on a couch eating popcorn. THAT is what this movie is so good.. you, the viewer, to truly grasp what you are seeing, must also take on a role the experiment requires. An Arbitar that will determine if humans pass or not, based on the evidence Damon gives.