Review of signs (2014) by Ben M — 18 Dec 2012
M. Knight Shymalan's best film and judging on his recent work.... will stay that way. This film was done the way that war of the worlds should have been done. The plot is of a father, two children and uncle living in the middle of nowhere grieving the loss of the wife and mother's death.
Robert Mckee (the scriptwriting guru) once wrote that flashbacks should never be used. M.Knight Shymalan manages to proves this rarely incorrect point wrong with brilliantly paced flashbacks to the mothers death.
I read recently that the alien's could also be perceived as demons which every character sees in a different light. A technique which Shymalan bravely use's in this film is using the viewers imagination.
Two scene's in particular which used this method effectively would be when Mel Gibson is curious to what is behind the pantry door. He uses a Knife's reflection to peak under the door which builds the tension dramatically, the other, when Mel Gibson is boarding up the last windows of the house and is horrified at what he witnesses coming towards the house.
Yet we are not allowed to see.... any other Hollywood film would have shown us and the illusion would have been ruined. All the characters comical traits throughout the film lead to a well worked twist and resolution which is very similar to War of the worlds ending but done in its own original way.
If M. Knight Shymalan's career is dead then at least he can be proud of Signs.
This review of signs (2014) was written by Ben M on 18 Dec 2012.
signs has generally received positive reviews.
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