Gibson's Sign.

Rating: 10/10 (19 August 2015)

Signs (2002): Dir: M. Night Shyamalan / Cast: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Cherry Jones, Abigail Breslin: Powerful thriller about direction. The signs themselves can be taken from the physical structure or as a sign of faith. Mel Gibson plays a former Priest who lost his faith when his wife was killed when struck by a truck. He lives with his son and daughter with his brother providing emotional support. He discovers circular patterns matted down their corn field. The media sees it as an alien invasion and Gibson claims that he has seen ominous figures that cause hostility in animals. His son possesses a baby monitor and can somehow read peculiar signals. Exhilarating, intelligent and scary using small details such as the monitor or the girl's half empty glasses of water to make big connections. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan who uses the same ominous appeal that worked in his previous masterpieces The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. Excellent performances by Gibson whose grieving is interrupted by this strange event. Joaquin Phoenix as his brother provides stability and an exciting climatic standoff. Rory Culkin plays his asthmatic son, and Abigail Breslin plays his young daughter. Finally Cherry Jones plays a local cop who has seen Gibson through much tragedy and shows up periodically. Excellent shocker about faith and understanding. Score: 10 / 10