Signs (2002)
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Written by M. Night Shyamalan
Starring Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Amanda Breslin
Release Date August 8th, 2002
Published August 4th, 2002
I Can't Believe He Did It Again! Director M. Night Shyamalan, for the third consecutive film, has managed to twist audiences to his will with yet another twisted film that shocks and surprises. In Signs Shyamalan plays his audience like a violin and makes us like it in what is the best film of 2002.Taut, perfectly paced, and filled with breathtaking moments, Signs is yet another extraordinary signpost in the increasingly brilliant career of M. Night Shyamalan.
Signs stars Mel Gibson as Father Graham Hess, or rather just Graham Hess. As we come to find out Graham has lost his faith in God and left the church. Now living on his farm with his two kids, Morgan (Rory Culkin) and Bo (Amanda Breslin) and his brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix), Graham seems to be slowly adjusting to life without faith. Then, not 10 minutes into the film we are thrust into a story involving the mythical urban legend: the crop circle.
To Graham it seems local idiots have vandalized his corn. It isn't until TV new coverage reveals that the crop formations aren't just in his cornfield, they are global. Interestingly enough the crop circles are merely the hook; the real story takes off well after we've seen our last crop circle.
Shyamalan adopts a sort of pop culture version of Hitchcock, aping the master’s style with his impressive film score that evokes some of Psycho and The Birds. Like Hitchcock, Shyamalan knows that the audience need not see anything to be scared, in fact, what the audience imagines is likely far scarier.
Mel Gibson is solid as always playing Graham with depth and feeling, never allowing the character to drift off into action hero mode but also not allowing him to be weak. Shyamalan once again shows his brilliant eye for casting children, with Rory Culkin proving to be the class of the Culkin family. And little Angela Breslin, whose wide-eyed deadpan delivery is used to both great dramatic and comedic effect.
One of the film’s most surprising elements is its sense of humor, which is perfectly timed and never takes away from the suspense. Shyamalan is beginning to show a pattern in his filmmaking style. A simplicity of storytelling that is so understated you barely notice it. He simply and artfully weaves together subtle realistic drama against outrageous backdrops.
In the Sixth Sense it was ghosts, in Unbreakable it's comic book superheroes and in Signs it's.... no no, I am not going to be the asshole who ruins the fun. You will have to see it yourself in what may be the best film of the year.
