A welcomed look back.

Rating: Null/10 (23 October 2002)

My only real gripe with this film: no one does the logical thing when faced with danger and grabs a weapon. The opening titles first surprised me in how they were handled--very nontraditionally. Not anything like a modern horror film. Then I realized it was a tribute to the old title cards of the days of Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock. And as the film unfolded, soon came the realization that the entire film would follow suit.
As the visual style paid tribute to directing masters, even the music paid homage to the legendary film composer Bernard Herrmann. And when a director is as well versed with classics as M. Night Shaymalan, a fantastic ride is sure to follow, masterfully cutting between scenes to both narrate effectively and deliver the suspense. The plot approaches the signs realistically as seen through the eyes of one family out in the middle of nowhere.
The narrowed down scope gives the film a very intimate feel, we know the characters, there's only a few so we spend time with them and get to know them. We worry when they're in danger, and they're not throwaway nobodies like they would be if the film showed a worldwide scale.
Shaymalan displays a great deal of restraint in how he handles the character's reactions-realistic, down to earth in many ways. `There's a monster outside my window, can I have a glass of water?' And the father completely ignores the first half of his daughter's midnight request. I mean, would you believe it? The source of the signs is constantly kept in shadow and creepy lighting, making appearances very briefly on the screen.
Are aliens really invading earth or are the signs an elaborate hoax? Shaymalan hints in one direction without giving it away, and with Shaymalan you have to wonder, `Is it really what he seems or is he leading me this way intentionally?' Shaymalan can keep the audience guessing when most directors are either incredibly predictable or incredibly lame trying to get around being predictable. And of course, Shaymalan has an underlying subtle plot point running throughout the film which makes itself apparent at the end.
If you can recognize and appreciate salutes to great sci-fi films, and classic filmmakers, Signs is definitely a treat worth watching.