Suspense the way it ought to be...

Rating: 9/10 (3 August 2002)

Signs is yet another well crafted movie from a great young director, M. Night Shyamalan. Here, Shyamalan returns more to the form of The Sixth Sense, but the intricately woven plot suggests the complexity of his last movie, Unbreakable. In the first hour, Signs alternates between creepy and hilarious. The movie manages to pack in quite a few good one-liners and sight gags, but for every laugh there is a moment that makes you jump. The movie doesn't waste any time; the mysterious events start within the first few seconds.
This movie can boast excellent performances from all involved. Mel Gibson is well-cast as a grieving widower and minister who has lost his faith. Joaquin Phoenix is fantastic as usual, and the children (Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin) are endearing. Signs only shows its weakness in the last 25 minutes, but any ending would suffer after the fantastic buildup that Shyamalan has put together. All things considered, this is without a doubt a fantastic movie.