Signs

Aroview: Trading on a promise to explore the mysterious crop-circle phenomenon, the third supernatural blockbuster from M. Night Shyamalan instead explores the writer/director’s abiding existential themes while telling a familiar tale of family, tragedy and lost faith - albeit with aliens.

After his wife’s untimely death, preacher-turned-farmer Mel Gibson and his kids discover a crop-circle in their backyard - indeed a sign of imminent alien invasion, but one which transpires from a singular family’s point-of-view. The ambitious, dialogue-intensive screenplay has as much regard for human intimacy as narrative invention yet, though it strikes the right notes, too often feels either by-the-book or contrived to leave a lasting brand. It's a jigsaw that does eventually fit together, though more a force-fit than one that satisfyingly snaps into place.

more matches…