all signs point to a good film....sorry bout the pun

Rating: 9/10 (30 March 2009)

Signs has a definite Hitchcock degree of scope. Characters are well rounded, tension and suspicion are kept to a peak until just the right moment, there is a story within a story and it plays into the hands of the actors. Its a definite watch at night, in the darkest room, blast the volume...not so much horror film but thriller, with horror elements.
Signs follows the story of the Hess family. A single father widowed tragically when his wife is killed in a car accident and former priest. He lives with his two kids Bo and Morgan and his younger brother Meryl. the family awake one morning to find a large crop circle in the cornfield of the farm they live on. The young boy Morgan jumps to the conclusion that aliens are the cause, he's a bit of a truth is out there kid, but his ideas are discounted by the family who believe it was the local hooligans playing an elaborate prank but soon these signs start to appear in countries all over the world.
the film takes a dramatic tone only really jesting at the idea of this alien invasion theory but tense edge of seat scenes throughout keep the idea fresh and believable. Its a fifties drive through movie in theory but its simple idea leads it to modern sophistication with serious story telling and some tight acting from the leads Gibson and Phoenix. All elements kept this viewer enticed and lead along. its a hard film to walk away from especially mid way through were a terrifying revelationshows up from out of the blue in the form of a news reel showing afamily party ruined by a mysterious creature, which will require a bit of time to come down from.
in all honesty its an entertaining film, filled with top shelf acting and suspenseful directorial skill from M.Night. Its a good watch only let down by the odd pacing seen between the first and second halves buy still it really doesn't matter because it really is entertaining in the long run. Yours sincerely C.F