Cliche ridden and full of plot holes... avoid!

Rating: 4/10 (7 October 2002)

This poor movie has neither the depth to be a drama nor the scares to rank as the suspense/thriller that it's been marketed as.
ROPEY PLOT:
The low-key plot sees a family headed by Mel Gibson living in a farm house, struggling to come to terms with the death of Gibson's wife (who is also the mother of his two children), which has caused Gibson, an ex-preacher, to loose his faith. Then comes the alien invasion...
***SPOILERS***
PLOT HOLES & CLICHES:
The aliens are rather ridiculous big green men, who seem remarkably primitive considering the UFO's they are supposed to have built.
It later transpires that these aliens dissolve into goo when sprayed with water. It doesn't really seem to pose a serious threat to mankind when all you need is a f***ing water pistol to see them off...
Gibson's family barricade themselves in their farmhouse, and this must be the only movie in history where this actually works, successfully keeping the aliens at bay.
Eventually, a radio broadcast announces that the aliens are retreating, though it is not yet clear why. Maybe it just started raining.
Worst of all is the oldest cliche in the book, preacher Gibson losing his faith after the death of his wife in a car accident. You can probably guess what happens to his faith at the end of the movie.
***END OF SPOILERS***
CONCLUSION: Shyamalan doesn't even have one of his usual gimmicky twist endings to redeem this feature, and his Spleilbergian use of the family unit is somewhat cloying. Not recommended. 4/10