Signs (2002)

A family living on a farm finds mysterious crop circles in their fields which suggests something more frightening to come.

Director:

M. Night Shyamalan

Writer:

M. Night Shyamalan

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin

3 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Rev. Graham Hess
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Merrill Hess
Rory Culkin	...	Morgan Hess
Abigail Breslin	...	Bo Hess
Cherry Jones	...	Officer Paski
M. Night Shyamalan	...	Ray Reddy
Patricia Kalember	...	Colleen Hess
Ted Sutton	...	SFC Cunningham
Merritt Wever	...	Tracey Abernathy, the Pharmacist
Lanny Flaherty	...	Mr. Nathan
Marion McCorry	...	Mrs. Nathan
Michael Showalter	...	Lionel Prichard
Kevin Pires	...	Brazilian Birthday Boy
Clifford David	...	Columbia University Professor
Rhonda Overby	...	Sarah Hughes

Storyline

In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a five-hundred-foot crop circle is found on the farm of Graham Hess, the town's reverend. The circles cause a media frenzy and test Hess's faith as he journeys to find out the truth behind the crop circles.

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Plot Keywords:

crop circle | crops | farm | faith | extraterrestrial | 

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Taglines:

It's happening.

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some frightening moments

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

2 August 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

M. Night Shyamalan's Signs

Filming Locations:

Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$72,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$146,587 (South Africa) (15 November 2002)

Gross:

$227,965,690 (USA) (31 January 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Blinding Edge Pictures, Kennedy/Marshall Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX SDDS DTS

Color:

Color (DuArt)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

M. Night Shyamalan didn't want the trailers to make any reference to The Sixth Sense because he felt it didn't trust what was to come next. That it didn't give the film its own life, and audiences would assume Signs was exactly the same type of film as The Sixth Sense.

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Goofs

When the Hess family goes into town, most of the trees in town have changed into their fall colors. Indeed, some leaves are brown, and there are dead leaves in the street. Yet, most of the trees around the farmhouse, especially those surrounding the corn field are dark green.

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Quotes

Caroline: Old Mrs. Kendleman twisted her ankle, as she puts it, diving for her life when a bunch of school kids rode down the sidewalk on skateboards. She went down to Thornton's store this morning and started spitting on the new skateboards. Spitting! By the time I got there, Mrs. Kendlemen had sprayed the whole damn place. And she must have had a cold or something. I'm telling you, I won't eat for a week. So, what happened to your crops?

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Crazy Credits

The end credits are black text that rolls over a black screen with a illuminated blue circle in the middle, instead of the traditional white text on a flat black background.

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Connections

Featured in Great Movie Mistakes III: Not in 3D (2011)

User Reviews

underrated film

I don't think this film deserved the poor reviews that some gave it. I've only seen 3 of Night Shylaman's films (6th Sense, Unbreakable) and this one is the most sophisticated in my mind in terms of the director manipulating the viewers into seeing and believing what he wants you to believe.

This is not Gibson's worst film by any means. If anything he gets to try to portray an understated, confused, and emotionally scarred character and I think he soft-sells it very well. Joaquin Phoenix also has a similar character to play and he too soft-sells it well. That was probably not an accident as their calm, sullen personalities contrast with the unbearable situation they find themselves in.

If you haven't already, see it - and keep an open mind.