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 & 34 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.

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Plot Keywords:

crop | crop circle | faith | farm | farmhouse | 

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Taglines:

The first sign you can't explain. The second sign you can't ignore. The third sign you won't believe.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | 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 USA:

$60,117,080, 4 August 2002, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$227,966,634

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$408,247,917

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX SDDS DTS

Color:

Color (DuArt)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the part of the "Brazilian Video" the anchorwoman says the video was taped in Passo Fundo city that means "Deep Step", and what the boy's saying all the time is "It's behind that garage".

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Goofs

When Officer Paski & Rev Graham are talking by her police car it seems the car is pointing to exit the property to the left, yet when she drives away she is driving to the right.

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Quotes

[Morgan has an asthma attack]
Graham Hess: We don't have his medicine. Don't be afraid, Morgan. We'll slow this down together. Feel my chest. Feel it moving in and out. Breathe like me. Breathe like me. Come on.
Bo: I dreamed this.
Graham Hess: Stay with me. I know it hurts. Be strong baby. It'll pass. It'll pass.
[talking to God]
Graham Hess: Don't do this to me again. Not again. I hate you. I hate you! The fear is feeding him. Don't be afraid of what's happening. Believe it's going to pass. Believe it. Just wait. Don't be afraid. The ...
[...]

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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

Features Dexter's Laboratory: Old Flame/Don't Be a Hero/My Favorite Martian (1998)

User Reviews

If you haven't seen it, you won't miss out.

First time I saw this movie as it was pretty new. Back then I didn't like it much and the only thing I remembered was, that it was pretty boring to watch. Now I thought of giving it a second chance. But still Signs doesn't get me at all. The acting and especially the dialogues are weird and during most of the time nothing happens in this movie. Graham and Merrill just appear a little dumb, but the way they treat the two children on the other hand is presented very heart warming. Yes, at the end we see one of the aliens, but again, it seems like this movie was not really trying to provoke a deeper reaction from the audience. Signs is well shot, but the story lacks excitement and the main characters, who are usually great actors, seem totally out of place in this one. If you haven't seen it, you won't miss out.