Doesn't Meet High Expectations

Rating: 5/10 (27 January 2019)

4 August 2002. While "Signs" is a good effort, it doesn't really get close to the high expectations built up by the proceeding publicity. Interestingly, "Signs" begins almost like an independent movie, even a David Lynch movie, with strange expressions, silent moments, disconnected and disjointed scenes and dialogue - spooky - sort of, but slow. There are a number of clever movie techniques attempted, with Mel Gibson being seen with only half a face in the light, a number of great bumps in the night moments, yet the movie didn't seem to have a rational, reasonable experience true to life feel. Moving back and forth from present to past, the ultimate connections did not prove nearly as satisfying as "The Sixth Sense." Actually, the director as actor proved to be one of the better parts of the movie.
The police are no where to be seen later in the movie. Mel Gibson's brother seems wasted because unlike "The Others" with Nicole Kidman, we have a less spooky confrontation because now there are more people to support each other unlike Nicole and her two children. The humor was cute and helped the movie move along, but it seemed "only" cute, not naturally a part of normal life that we, as the audience can identify with.
The movie tried to be an individual family's confrontation with the unknown, but it was intruded upon by the outside, television world. The unknown forces didn't seem real either - unlike - "The Blair Witch Project." How come there was even television communication to begin with. There was too much attempted here, expectations were set too high. The focus was distracted by too many threads going on. The end result is a slow going, unreal, disconnected movie that can't overcome had moments of good movie making and experimental cinematic attempts. But be sure better things will come from this director no doubt.