Dollar for dollar, is the most over-hyped film of the 2002 summer season.

Rating: Null/10 (3 August 2002)

SPOILER-----SPOILER--------SPOILER
Signs is the story of faith, family and an alien invasion. Graham Hess [Mel Gibson] and his brother Merrill [Joaquim Phoenix] are corn farmers in Bucks County, PA. Graham, a former preacher, has denounced god following his wife's accidental death----he's no longer a believer. Merrill, on the other hand, leaves the big decisions to a higher being----he's a believer. Graham and his two kids Morgan and Bo [Rory Calkin and Abigail Breslin] awaken one morning to find crop circles in their cornfield. One circle leads to another and with assistance from CNN whatever], they realize aliens are invading the world, and the Hess farm is on the hit list. This turn of events causes Graham to reflect on his life, kids and wife's death. Are the crop circles a sign to Graham that he needs to reestablish his faith?
Signs has everything but a credible story line, although there's a credible plot about faith and spiritual belief that underlie this yarn. This film is technically very good; with a well-balanced mix of humor and suspense, underpinned by solid video, sound, special effects and several story twists that come together nicely in the end. To enjoy the film, you've got to ratchet down expectations and suspend your beliefs. The story assumes that: crop circles [a hoax identified by the Brits 10 years ago] are real signs of the super natural and the earth are about to be invaded by aliens. This story line marginalizes the film to cheap science fiction and leaves the viewer wondering if Bucks County farmers read the Philadelphia Inquire, or only supermarket tabloids.
Signs, dollar for dollar, is the most over-hyped film of the 2002 summer season. Written, produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, who burst on the American film scene with the hugely successful Sixth Sense [1999], this film may ultimately prove he's got only one good movie in him. Shyamalan, not being a complete fool, hedges his bets by also casting himself in an acting role. Hollywood types have too much invested in young Shyamalan, including the pre-release hype on this film, and their reviews of the finished product may be less than objective.
Signs is also a sloppy production, showing young Shyamalan' inexperience. Bucks County PA immediately abuts Philadelphia and has over 1000 people per square mile [U.S. census 2000] not exactly `corn country'. The Hess `farm' is a house and garage but lacks barns, storage silos, trucks and farm machinery. Farmer Hess is referred to as `Father' by church members, and although he eventually wears a white collar is not a Catholic priest. Finally, Shyamalan' [from the Indian subcontinent] shamelessly casts himself as the local animal doctor, and stands out like a sore thumb. This is Hardly a Hitchcock-esque idea.