Signs (2002)

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

3.5/4M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense director, returns to the big screen again in 2002 with his new movie, Signs. This film is truly great, if poorly marketed all the way down to the opening credits. The selling point of a Shyamalan movie had become his suspense (which was here) as well as his signature twist (which took a backseat in this movie). After the success of The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, he decided to market Signs as a bit more than it actually was. If you watch Signs expecting big thrills and some truly terrifying sequences, you may walk out disappointed. This movie shows that Shyamalan can, in fact, direct more than one genre.The story centers around a widower named Graham Hess (Mel Gibson), his younger adult brother (Joaquin Phoenix), and his two children Morgan and Bo (Rory Culkin and Abagail Breslin). Graham and his two children are grieving the loss of his wife (their mother) and his live-in brother is caught up in the family drama. When they are conflicted with the precursors to an alien invasion, it drives the family into isolation, which makes them closer. It's a very smart and engaging movie that touches on the subjects of despair and fear in a more mature manner than you might expect. The plot is driven by the characters more so than any action, and I found the "alien invasion" to be a mere plot device to propel what is really a drama.The acting is what makes this great. The four main characters have to carry the movie for well over half of the total run time, and they do a good job of keeping the audience involved. In my opinion, this is one of Mel Gibson's better preformances, and as far as a conflicted man mourning the death of his wife, he brings a lot to the table. Joaquin Phoenix gives his standard average effort, and Rory Culkin is great as the son. M. Night Shyamalan has proven to be good at working with kids, first Cole in Sixth Sense, then Joseph in Unbreakable, and now Morgan in Signs.Due to the fact that this is not the thriller you probably thought it was, there seems to be very easy Easter eggs scattered throughout this movie, and a much lesser end twist. There is only one way in which this movie doesn't succeed: the "end twist" seems to answer the question you didn't have, and wouldn't have had. While it truly doesn't compare to his twist in The Sixth Sense, it's easy to forgive, again, considering the joy of Signs are the characters.This is a truly excellent movie from Shyamalan, although it's a shame some people didn't receive it too well. It had a good build-up with great momentum, but as far as chills go, it delivers fairly little. If this were marketed as a Shyamalan crossover drama, I guarantee it would be a blockbuster.

Signs is a very underrated horror movie, almost as good as The Sixth Sense. The actors all did a great job, and made the whole thing believable. Before I saw the movie, I had no idea how scary it was going to be. The part with the TV news report with the alien sighting is one of the most disturbing moments in a horror movie. I remember the hair standing out on my neck the first time I saw it. I still have trouble watching it. Probably because it feels like we're watching a real news report. And although I'm not a fan of jump scares, the scene with the alien hand under the door is pretty darn frightening.Even though it's a horror movie with aliens in it, it's predominately a movie about the loss and rediscovery of one's faith. The aliens could easily have been replaced by zombies or giant, flesh eating koalas. The aliens are just stereotypical aliens, humanoids without clothes. I suppose some people were disappointed by this, and perhaps wanted something like the xenomorph. Personally, I think they're way scarier than the creature from the Alien series...the xenomorph is like a shark, a dumb animal. The aliens from Signs are home invaders from outer space.Aliens have always been popular in Hollywood and in comic books etc. Most people like stories about visitors from galaxies far, far away. Star Wars, Avengers, Superman...they're usually portrayed either as evil invaders or advanced peacemakers.Scientists are eager to find life on other planets (SETI). Some of them have even gone so far to suggest that, since life here on earth seems to be designed, we must have been created by little green men. Other scientists have also speculated that we humans are a part of a computer simulation made by these aliens. Evolutionists desperately want to find aliens, as a way to discredit religion.Many people all over the world claim that they have seen UFO's or have even been abducted by aliens. It's certainly possible that many of them lie or suffer from false memories/sleep paralysis. But every single one? Unlikely. Something is really going on here.After years of researching the UFO/Alien phenomenon, most of the serious UFOlogists have come to the conclusion that these beings aren't really aliens from outer space at all. Abductees say that these beings can walk through solid objects, use telepathy, take over your mind...UFO's are known to change shape and defy physical laws. So what are they really? According to the well-known UFO researcher John Keel (The Mothman Prophecies): "The UFOs do not seem to exist as tangible, manufactured objects...The thousands of contacts with the entities indicate that they are liars and put-on artists..."And it gets worse. Here's a quote from Jacques Vallee:"An impressive parallel can be made between UFO occupants and the popular conceptions of demons."John Keel:"The UFO manifestations seem to be, by and large, merely minor variations of the age-old demonological phenomenon."Whitley Strieber, an author who claims to have been abducted by aliens (the story was made into a movie based on his book "Communion", with Christopher Walken as Strieber):"It was hell on earth to be there (in the presence of the entities), and yet I couldn't move, couldn't cry out, couldn't get away....Of course they were demons.... and I couldn't get away."The famous occultist Aleister Crowley told that he had contact with a strange being called "Lam", which he drew on a piece of paper. The being looks almost exactly like the stereotypical "gray alien" you see everywhere. Google it if you dare.This is all pretty disturbing, huh? And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Some (secular) researchers have even discovered that the "aliens" go away when their victims cry out for Jesus. Also, the "aliens" often tell abductees that they are our masters, that they created us. They want to be worshiped, and tell their victims that Christianity is false. You hear about these strange and disturbing UFO cults...members claiming to be in contact with a higher, alien consciousness. They believe that the so-called aliens are our saviors that will give us superpowers and save us from ourselves. The Alien/UFO phenomenon is closely linked to the occult.These entities have supposedly disguised themselves throughout history, usually based on our latest "fads". First, they appeared as pagan gods, then strange creatures like fairies etc. During the Victorian times, spiritualism that was all the rage. In our modern, "scientific" era, it's aliens. The aliens and UFO's have also altered their appearances based on how aliens are portrayed in popular culture. From human-looking aliens to grays, from rockets to glowing balls of light.I'm not saying that people like Keel, Vallee and the other researchers believe that aliens are demons. As far as I know, none of them have/had any religious beliefs. According their theories, aliens are something called "interterrestrials". But really...how is this any different from fallen angels?Does this mean that the aliens in Signs are supposed to be demons? Some fans have suggested this. They can be harmed by water (holy water), and in the end the aliens in Mel Gibson's house are defeated by God. The news report at the end say that the rest of the aliens were defeated by using an "ancient method", possibly prayer. If I remember correctly, this theory has been debunked by the director himself. They're "real" aliens from outer space. Anyway, the thought that so-called aliens really are demons makes Signs even scarier...(There's actually a documentary revealing the truth about aliens coming out this year, called "Alien Intrusion", based on a book by Gary Bates)

You think crop circles are a hoax? M. Night Shyamalan's film tries to have you thinking differently. And not just about crop circles.Rev. Graham Hess, is a widower living in a farmhouse along with his two children, Morgan and Bo. Graham's younger brother, Merrill, has also joined the household. Wait. Did I say REVEREND Graham Hess? Make that FORMER reverend since, as a result of his struggle to make sense of his wife's death, Mr. Hess has lost his faith.His wife's dying words were "Tell Merrill to swing away..." The randomness of those words sends Graham into a nihilistic tailspin, causing him to say things like, "I am not wasting one more minute of my life on prayer" and "there is no One looking out for us...we are all alone."But it is the seemingly random words and happenstances of the film that congeal in the end to produce an epiphany of sorts. In this regard, Hess's epiphany is not too different from the one experienced by Jules in Tarentino's PULP FICTION. If PULP FICTION had a big idea, it was that even the least worthy can catch a break from the Man Upstairs. Similarly, Shyamalan's big idea here is that even when aliens with bad intent show up on earth, God still cares, God is still in charge. It's just not so obvious. Until it is.In this way, "Signs" may just be a 105-minute, suspense-filled meditation on the Scripture that goes, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God..." (Romans 8:28). And maybe even for the good of those who don't.This film has its definite strengths. There are some genuinely eerie moments midst the cornstalks (naturally). The "Field of Dreams"-like setting and cinematography are easy on the eyes, effectively contrasting with the shadowy alien invasion. As for the cast, Abigail Breslin (as Bo), barely six years old and in her first film, does a great job being unself-consciously precocious. And there's barely a hint of Mad Max in Mel Gibson's Graham Hess. Furthermore, I tend to like anything Joaquin Phoenix does, including the weird Hip-Hop-ZZ-Top thing he did a few years ago. The weak link is the older brother (played by the younger brother of the kid who played the kid in the Home Alone films).Cinematically speaking, it is clear that Shyamalan has learned much from his movie-making idol, Alfred Hitchcock. On the other hand, unlike Hitchcock, Shyamalan is not content with a fleeting cameo. Instead, he cast himself in the role of a major minor character and the low quality of this performance is distracting. So, yeah, another weak link.Yet another complaint: the aliens come off as pretty wimpy. How is it that a humanoid species can figure out how to travel from one solar system to another but can't figure out a defense against one of the most basic of elements? C'mon now. Really, the best thing about this film is the theological question: Does a caring God exist or not? Shyamalan keeps this theological tension taut throughout the film and resolves it in a manner that you probably did not see coming.UPSHOT: despite its flaws, "Signs" manages to be a worthy film that can promote an even more worthy conversation about fate and faith, God and grace.

Coming off of "The Sixth Sense" & "Unbreakable", filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan was in the prime of his "pull the wool over our eyes" type of films. It sure shows in this gem of a film dealing with both aliens and the question of "fate vs. coincidence".For a basic plot summary, "Signs" sees Rev. Graham Hess (Mel Gibson), brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix), son Morgan (Rory Caulkin), and daughter Bo (Abigail Breslin) suddenly dealing with an alien presence, begun by a strange crop circle on the nearby property. This comes on he heels of the death of the mother of the family, so the remaining family members struggle to deal with this new test.What makes this movie so great is that, short of "Sixth Sense", it is the best "trick ending" of any M. Night film. I won't say any more for fear of spoiling it for you, but suffice it to say that your jaw will be on the floor (provided you are "going in blind", of course, without any prior knowledge). The ending even fits in with the context of the overall film, which is an area in which it surpasses later works such as "The Village" & "Lady In The Water".The acting is also terrific, with Gibson giving a poignant performance as the faithless former preacher. Phoenix and the children characters provide some much-needed comic relief in such a dark (and sometimes emotionally dreary) film. As usual, one of M. Night's most underrated directorial talents shines through: the ability to change the mood of a piece on a dime, perfectly blending satire with mystery/adventure without either getting stale.Overall, "Signs" is a wonderful movie if you are a fan of mysteries or sci-fi tales. It even has the "human touch" to vault it into all-time favorite status. Incredibly, after fooling us already with "Sixth Sense", M. Night turns around a scant few years later and turns the exact same trick. Remarkable.