No sign of life

Rating: Null/10 (6 August 2002)

The film that the trailer portrayed was thrilling, original and yes, even scary. Unfortunately, the trailer must have been for a different movie since Signs was none of those.
Shyamalan films have been known to play on the mental exploitation of the audience. I was enraptured by the spine tingling Sixth Sense and then was blown away by its ending. However, I left Signs just feeling duped. This was not the movie I came to see. The "everything happens for a reason" plotline was preachy and overdone to the point that the extra terrestrials were more realistic than the exorbinant coincidences that befall the Hess family. And there isn't enough space to describe all the plot holes.
Stylistically, there were some very interesting choices made, like the blackout for a few seconds right in the crux of the film. This really heightened the suspense (the little that there was) and made for an original scene. However, it was really the only shining moment in the movie. Its sad when that occurs when the screen is totally dark.

All in all, if you're looking for that summer sci-fi thriller, watch the trailer. If you're looking for a movie that tries really too hard to link all a family's contrived events into one supposedly meaningful package, then spend the ten bucks and go see it. At least you'll know what you're getting yourself into.