What's scary about this movie. . .

Rating: 8/10 (5 February 2003)

*Possible spoilers within* The first time I saw this film was in the theater, not long after it opened. I was so scared, I could barely move. My muscles were honestly sore at the end from holding tension in them. It was the best filmgoing experience. ..ever. On the way home, I analyzed it and realized what was so frightening to me was the way it echoed my own personal 9/11 experience. (When I found out, through the DVD extras, that filming started two days after, on September the 13th, I cried.)On that day, more concrete to me than the suffering of the people in the towers, was the fear of the people standing helpless nearby, watching the destruction. And even more concrete than that to me was what felt like a momentary dissolution of our country, the way things are done here, and the possibility of what might come next. I remember the most terrifying aspect of that whole day was hearing the f-word on NBC in some unedited video. ..then hearing that footage again and again and again. Similarly in Signs, the moment that we are "pushed off the edge," so to speak, is the moment that Graham opens the closet door and there's nothing but a test pattern on the television. That moment, to me, spoke of a terrifying "end of the world as we know it," similar to what I experienced on that day. Also, when Graham and the kids come out of the basement, the first thing we hear is the television news report, a clear "return to normalcy." I was put off too, once I saw the actual creature effect, but I was willing to forgive that one transgression, as the rest of the film to me was a beautifully crafted piece of cinema. The direction and cinematography are marvellous and thoughtful, most of the actors have obviously done their homework, the light and indeed the whole production design is beautiful(as a costume designer, I loved touches like little Bo being in her dress-up gown when she is frightened). Sure, it's got its plot holes. Sure some bits of the dialogue aren't as well-crafted as they might be. Ok, M Night Shayamalan isn't likely to win an Oscar for his acting. However, if you can get beyond these little issues and see the film as a whole, give in to willing suspension of disbelief, and buy into the world of the film, I think there's a lot to be learned, both emotionally and intellectually.