Very good until the ending.

Rating: 7/10 (12 August 2002)

This latest thriller is from director M. Night Shyalmanan and has many of his trademark touches. This story is basicaly "Independance Day" old from the perspective of an isolated farmhouse.. you get all the old standby alien invasion angles, but you are so cut off from the main story and forced to focus on this one family that it gets scarier by implication. The atmospheric touches and the total absence of underscore for much of the film add to the fear and suspense factor that ratchets up till the end of the world scenerio plays itself out. Mel Gibson as an emotionaly damaged former preacher and father of two young children is good in an underplayed role as is Joaquin Phoenix as his former minor-league ballplayer brother. The film is good for long stretches before finaly falling apart at the end and failing to live up to it's expectations. GRADE: B