Signs (2002)

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi

Director: M. Night Shyamalan 

Writer: M. Night Shyamalan 

Staring: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin 

Rating: ★★★★

Signs isn't just a Sci fi film about aliens and crop circles, it's a film about fate and how life gives you signs of what's meant to be. Although inspirational to some extent it's horrifying, M. Night Shyamalan's has written and directed a fantastic film, the use of sound or the lack of it, in silence creates a fear of the unknown and a fear of the unheard. It's an amazing film with an amazing crew as well as cast that will make you leave a few half empty glasses of water around your house. 

The film follows the "Hess" family who owns a farm in the small town of Bucks County in Pennsylvania. Former Reverend Graham (Mel Gibson) has just recently lost his wife, with his faith being tested he then discovers crop circles up to 500ft big in his field, later finding out he's one of many to suffer world-wide. He lives with his two kids Morgan, who suffers badly from asthma and Bo, a little girl who is more than a little picky when it comes to water and finally his brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix) a former mini league baseball player known for his big swing. After animals start behaving strange, crop circles getting more than enough publicity world wide and some dodgy baby monitor reception they are all in too deep and are about to encounter the unknown and be tested as a family. 

As I said before Signs isn't just about crop circles, its about fate and signs that aren't always visible in life giving an inspirational twist on a Sci fi horror making it stand out to the rest. It's also a heart warming story about how a family sticks together and fights its way through hard times. M. Night Shyamalan has written a film that will make you shiver and give you chills not only due to horror but due to the relationships between the characters. The key element that sticks out is the sound, the use of silence makes you fear the unknown and creates a feeling of loneliness and helplessness, for me it was the best thing about this film alongside the cinematography and the suspense created by keeping the antagonist off screen until the climax. 

M. Night Shyamalan was at his best when creating this film in my opinion, it deserves all the credit it can get. It's one of my favourite films that discuss the topic of extraterrestrials due to its different approach and use of tin foil hats. It's one to watch on a dark lonely night for sure, but don't expect to get much sleep after.