It Happened

Rating: 10/10 (4 August 2002)

I discovered 'signs' in late December/early January, causing me to wait a seemingly unhealthy and extremely drawn-out seven months. Many would assume that because of the excitement that was gradually built within me, only disappointment could follow my viewing of the movie (mainly because I had such high expectations). I rushed to the theater opening day, and I must say, my excitement only heightened by the end of the movie.
Naturally, trailers and commercials expose this crop circled movie as a supernatural thriller, but M. Night Shyamalan himself is careful to note that the center of the movie is really on one's faith rather than crop circles, aliens, or anything related to such. 'Signs' is a mixture of things: humor, emotion, frightening elements, and a factor found in some of the scariest of movies--silence. Just before actually seeing the film, I found myself slightly worried that the word 'alien' found its way in. It made me somewhat skeptical because I thought that the presence of extraterrestrials would fail to effectively deliver the message that Shyamalan so intended. However, he is a pure genius and I wonder how I ever doubted him. With pure intelligence, which seems to be lacking in so many movies these days, he makes everything work, slowly releasing information to the audience and finally tying all of the ends together at the very end. Though it may not have the kind of 'surprise' ending like 'The Sixth Sense' and 'Unbreakable,' it has one all its own and nothing can replace it. The secret is not to release too much information too early because 'Signs' is meant to keep you guessing and to experience it with your own eyes, or rather, own mind. The performances delivered by Joaquin Phoenix:), Mel Gibson, Rory Culkin, and adorable Abigail Breslin are memorable and only add to the strength of 'Signs.' It will most likely be a box office winner, but more importantly, it will be put on the list of 'smart' and challenging movies.