Signs (2002)

            The title of this film is a dual metaphor, referring to signs made by aliens as well as a sign from God to the Reverend Graham Hess, who has lost his faith.  The signs are the famous crop circles that appeared in southern England in the 1970s and spread internationally in response to media attention.  Credulous crop circle researchers-known as "cereologists" or "croppies"-believed that either extraterrestrials or "plasma vortices" were responsible for the phenomenon.  The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) was skeptical about these claims and was vindicated in 1991 when the hoaxers came forward.

            M. Night Shyamalan wrote the screenplay and directed this film as well as a previous success, The Sixth Sense (1999) and Unbreakable (2000).  All three films are thrillers with a supernatural element included.

            Signs begins with spooky music and introduces the crop circles immediately.  It continues with strange noises, inexplicable winds and strange sightings as the story builds toward a climax.  As a thriller, it's predictable and pretty tame, probably in order to retain its PG-13 rating and a larger audience. 

            Mel Gibson is the advertising draw.  He's cast as the protagonist, Rev. Hess, who lives on a farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania about 45 miles outside Philadelphia with his brother and two children.  Joaquin Phoenix plays his brother, Merrill.  Rory Culkin plays his son and Abigail Breslin plays his youngest, Bo.  Both children are from film families.  Culkin is the youngest of seven children, six of whom are actors.  This was his sixth film.  However, this was Breslin's first film and she did so well she was picked up for television work as well as more films, notably Raising Helen (2004) with Kate Hudson.

            Reviewed August 27, 2005                Copyright 2005 Charles T. Markee

            MPAA: Rated PG-13 for some frightening moments.