Technical grandiosity

After criticising the plot, it is time to praise the technical realisation. Filming and camera handling is excellent; the dark shadows of the nocturnal corn field are exploited skillfully, close-ups and unusual camera angles are used effectively. Music is present unfrequently, but in the right places and in the right way. James Newton Howard is succesfully following the footsteps of Bernard Hermann, Hitchcock's favourite composer, making a side step from his usual harmonic and uplifting orchestrations.

In my opinion Gibson is not quite convincing in an over-serious role where he can not exploit his gifst as a comedian. Phonenix, on the other hand, aided by Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin as the kids succeeds extremely well - considering the stereotypical roles.

my first association was to the 60's zombie classic, "The Night of the Living Dead" by George A. Romero

Although the hostile aliens remind me of "Independence Day", the psychological UFO scene of "Close Encounters" and the minimalistic setup of Hitchcock's "Birds", my first association was to the 60's zombie classic, "The Night of the Living Dead" by George A. Romero. In this documentary-style cult film average people were confronted by corpses rising from their graves. The zombies were even woken up by impulses from space, in a similar way as the crop formations of "Signs".

In both films the main characters hide inside the basement of a country house, surrounded by a very basic environment. There is a clear distinction though; Romero used the zombies for visual splattery unlike Shyamalan. Though the latter had lots more bucks to create his realistic illusion, most of the budget must have gone to the expensive star actors, camera crew and composer. Visually you can't see lots of money burning, though the few visual effects are professional quality (what else would you expect in 2002?).

In USA "Signs" has reached the pole position in the box office, perhaps expectedly. Shyamalans first borns have made him a blockbuster worthy of Mel Gibson (both as an actor and director - Shyamalan's acting career also has a good start). I believe the film will be a success in Finland as well. Intellectually oriented SciFi fans like me may find its weaknesses, but those looking for entertaining suspence and scary effects should find it worth the ticket price.

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