Brilliant, Thrilling and Superbly Acted

Rating: 9/10 (26 October 2002)

M. Night's Shyamalan's Signs is one of the best films of 2002. What makes the thriller so effective is that Shyamalan does not have to use a lot of gore or cheap thrills to captivate the audience. The movie's simple tone makes every thrilling move even more thrilling than it would seem in an average thriller. Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix and the child actors give a great performance as the family whose lives have been altered by these mysterious 'SIGNS'. Beware though, that by the end of the movie, you will find out the true meaning of 'SIGNS'. Really, the only disappointment with the movie is the ending, which has become a signature for Shyamalan in his previous films , "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable". This movie is setup so well for a thrilling ending, that it comes off as rather anticlimactic. Overall though, one of the best suspense thrillers you will see. 7/10