Signes (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 & 30 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

Preacher Graham Hess, played by Mel Gibson, has lost his faith in God after his wife dies in a brutal car accident. He along with his son and daughter and his brother Merrill lives in a farmhouse. Crop circles begin to appear in their corn fields which Graham dismisses as mischief by miscreants. After hearing strange noises and watching news coverage on crop circles appearing all over the world, the family grows suspicious of alien activities. Now they must stick together and believe, as a family to survive the ordeal and find a way to escape.

---

Plot Keywords:

crop circle | faith | farm | glass of water | loss of faith | 

---

Taglines:

A message. A warning. A sign...of things to come.

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Tous publics

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

16 October 2002 (France)

Also Known As:

Signes

Filming Locations:

Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$72,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$60,117,080 (USA) (2 August 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: [things reflected on television screens]

---

Goofs

There is no such agency as the Bucks County Police. All towns in Bucks County, and almost all of Pennsylvania for that matter, are served by either local police, regional police, or the Pennsylvania State Police, never by county police or sheriff's offices (which are restricted to court-related duties). The only county police force in Pennsylvania, the Allegheny County PD, is on the other side of the state from Doylestown, and furthermore, is restricted to providing law enforcement services only on county property.

---

Quotes

Graham Hess: Morgan, after you were born, the doctor gave you to your mother. When she first looked at you, you just stared right back. You both just stared at each other for longest time, and you didn't even cry.

---

Crazy Credits

In Memory of Bill Nisselson - June 19, 2001

---

Connections

Referenced in South Park: Imaginationland (2007)

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.