Signs Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Signs
Year: 2002
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Country: US
Language: English

M.Night Shyamalan's fifth picture, Signs features a lot of crop circles; huge geometric shapes in fields of corn and wheat, which were seen all over the world in the 1970s. Many conspiracy theorists thought it was the work of aliens who were sending various messages on our planet. Their origin was explained in 1991 when two hoaxers came forward and demonstrated how they were made. Despite this the crop circles lives long after its unmasking, with many people forgetting or not knowing that they were explained. The director explores this phenomenon, as well as the idea that we may not be alone after all.

Preacher Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) has lost his faith in God after his wife dies in a brutal car accident. He along with his son and daughter and his brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix) moves into a farmhouse. Soon they find the appearance of mysterious crop circles, which suggest more frightening things to come.

The strength of Signs lies in the Director's unwillingness to explain what is happening. Shyamalan doesn't bother with labored explanations and a climax wrapped in a nice little package. Why do the aliens come to Earth? We aren't quite sure. This adds to the suspense and overall fear of what is about to happen. Rather relying on gore or jump scares, the film evokes us through pure emotion. We must listen intently, even when nothing is to be heard. We are on the edge of our seat, even when no action happens onscreen. 

The biggest fear Shyamalan sells us on is the collapse of the family unit. We do not fear the aliens because they are strong, rather we fear the aliens because the humans are week. Preacher Graham Hess is emotionally, physically and spiritually drained. He tries to be a role model, but sees that he is not in control of anything and thus must face the consequences of his inaction. As his faith gets stronger, his outlook does as well. Though the twist involving water is absurd, because why would aliens land on a planet made mostly of water, the film has a promising human climax

In conclusion, Signs is the greatest work of M.Night Shyamalan, though oddly enough he almost ruins it with his own cameo appearance. It's a picture about grief, dread and suffering. It has an atmosphere of ominous dread with very little explanation. Those who wish to make suspense nowadays ought to watch this picture.  Praise it! 4.5/5