I enjoyed both the proposition and execution

Rating: 9/10 (23 September 2002)

This film has no action. You might think that's a bad thing, and certainly the people I went to see it with thought so, but I liked it. Far from being disappointed, I was pleasantly surprised.
Without giving too much away, its proposition is an examination of how a fairly normal family might deal with the threat (real or imagined) of an alien invasion. Naturally, the characters all have their hooks and foibles, and there is a crisis-of-faith subplot, but the central theme is tightly focused on a normal, vulnerable, rural family faced with a situation for which none of us would be prepared. I enjoyed seeing the progress of the characters from the first interruption of their normal existence to conclusion and consequences.
I particularly liked the way the whole thing was resolved without recourse to action hero shenanigans, despite Mel Gibson playing the lead. Mel fans may be disappointed with this, and others may be disappointed with his attempts to portray "tearful", but his performance otherwise fitting.
It was good to see that movie makers still exist not only willing to forego the quips and flying bullets but doing it in a way that kept me interested, excited and - yes - a little scared, for the entire duration of the film.