two stories, one conclusion

Rating: 3/10 (13 May 2006)

'Signs' is a film about a widowed father and minister from rural America. The film combines two stories: one of the father and his ability to deal with his wife's death while making sense of the alien invasion through the eyes of his religion. The other story is more science-fiction in nature with people hiding in horror as they try to overcome the aliens and protect themselves. The film has some lessons to learn and settles the story in a way that encompasses both plots together nicely. The family-life plot was a little too slow moving for me, and it felt forced and silly/patriotic/sympathetic. It humanized the main character too much, and it distracted from the science-fiction part of the film. Special effects were also done well and were believable. The aliens did look frightening, and showing less in some instances was more because it made the story seem even more frightening and realistic.