Interesting Thematic Ideas but leaky plot and performances

Rating: 7/10 (8 August 2002)

Signs is the latest offering of the very talented M. Night Shyamalan. It is set in the "rural" area of Bucks County just outside of Philadelphia. Mel Gibson is Graham Hess, a former Priest of no stated church who is angry with God and has lost his faith after the accidental death of his wife. For some odd reason he also has a large farm that has acres of corn fields that he appears to tend with no farm hands or help. Suddenly geometric signs appear in his field and Hess is determined to get to the bottom of this while protecting his family. His crises of faith in God or a guiding force in the Universe is supposed to be the concept that drives the film but weak plotting undermines the idea. Mel Gibson is not entirely successful in conveying Father Hess's confusion and sorrow after the death of his wife. One thinks as a middle age Reverend he must have counseled people on how to deal with the loss of a loved one. Sometime, he must have figured out that times like that are what test your true faith and conviction: but right now he "hates God." The Aliens have traveled here for dubious reasons and are ill-equipped to deal with earthlings; though they did have the technology to get here from wherever and make cool patterns in grass and crops. Primitive means are most successful in dealing with them. Perhaps had Mr. Shyamalan formally collaborated with someone the plot could have supported his lofty questions of faith.