I Am Terrified of Aliens Because of This UFO Movie

As a cinephile who has spent countless hours poring over the annals of UFO lore and alien invasions on the silver screen, I find myself deeply enamored with M. Night Shyamalan’s 2002 masterpiece, Signs. Having grown up in the rural Pennsylvania landscape that serves as the backdrop for this film, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of nostalgia and familiarity when watching the Hess family’s harrowing encounter with extraterrestrial forces.

Signs is more than just a sci-fi thriller; it’s an exploration of grief, faith, and family dynamics set against the backdrop of a terrifying alien invasion. The film deftly weaves together the personal struggles of its characters with the larger, cosmic threat looming over them, creating a unique blend of human drama and suspenseful horror that I find unparalleled in other space-themed films.

The performances are top-notch, particularly Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Merrill Hess, a man grappling with the loss of his dreams and the weight of his responsibilities. Mel Gibson, as his brother Graham, delivers a nuanced performance that captures the struggle between faith and reason in the face of the unknown.

One of my favorite aspects of Signs is its treatment of crop circles, a topic that has long fascinated UFO enthusiasts like myself. The film manages to incorporate this real-life mystery into its narrative in a way that feels both authentic and engaging. It’s a testament to Shyamalan’s storytelling abilities that he can take such an esoteric subject and turn it into a central plot point without alienating audiences who may be unfamiliar with the topic.

I must admit, I found myself chuckling at the memory of Scary Movie 3’s parody of Signs – a film that, while entertaining in its own right, pales in comparison to the original. But if you’re around my age, you may remember Signs as the first time you consciously thought of UFOs as both fascinating and frightening. It was a revelation that has stayed with me ever since.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Signs to any cinephile looking for a unique blend of suspense, drama, and alien horror. Its rural Pennsylvania setting, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes make it a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of UFO culture and cinema. And if that’s not enough to convince you, just remember: next time you see a crop circle, don’t dismiss it as merely a prank – it could be a sign (pun intended) of things to come!

It’s an unusual period to be passionate about UFOs, particularly if you view celestial lights as inspiring rather than alarming. As actual conspiracy theories multiply and sci-fi space terror is portrayed far beyond our galaxy, I find myself explaining my UFO sentiments in a surprisingly pastoral narrative. To me, the epitome of a UFO horror movie is M. Night Shyamalan’s 2002 film, “Signs.

The film titled “Signs” is a suspenseful science fiction story, taking place on a remote Pennsylvania farm and featuring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix as siblings Graham and Merrill Hess. If you’re not familiar with this movie, you might recognize it from the parody “Scary Movie 3”. For those of us who grew up during that time, however, “Signs” holds a special place as the moment we started viewing UFOs less as fascinating phenomena and more as potential threats. This movie creatively spins an original tale while exploring the typical American cultural notion of UFOs.

In the opening scenes of the film, I find myself delving into a subject that stirs intrigue within the Ufology community – crop circles. In reality, these phenomena have been largely discredited as jokes, hoaxes, or natural occurrences. Initially, my on-screen family, the Hesses, share this skepticism. However, the narrative swiftly shifts its focus from these mysterious formations to our personal struggles. My character, Graham, was once an Episcopal priest, but his faith crumbled following the tragic loss of his wife in a car accident approximately half a year ago. Merrill, another family member, saw his minor league baseball career cut short, and now he’s back on the farm, trying to assist his brother, niece, and nephew navigate their grief.

Amidst these events, crop circles started dominating the headlines and became increasingly difficult for Graham and Merrill to dismiss. Strange figures seemed to materialize in their field, yet remained elusive to them. Additionally, they picked up unusual, non-human sounds through a baby monitor. Unwittingly, they found themselves in the midst of an alien invasion that swept across the globe.

Besides the Hess brothers, other significant characters include Morgan Graham (portrayed by Rory Culkin) and his daughter Bo (Abigail Breslin). They are also joined by their friend Caroline Paski, a local police officer played by Cherry Jones, and their neighbor Ray Reddy, portrayed by M. Night Shyamalan himself. In the production team, notable figures include Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, and Sam Mercer as producers.

Signs” was produced in Pennsylvania with a budget of approximately $72 million, and it turned out to be a hit at the box office, earning over $408 million worldwide. At that time, it ranked as M. Night Shyamalan’s second highest-grossing film, trailing only “The Sixth Sense.” The movie was also popular among video rental customers and film enthusiasts, with its extensive special features such as deleted scenes, documentaries, and storyboards being particularly well received. This film generated nearly $35 million in DVD rental revenue between January and March of 2003 alone.

Currently, as I compose this text, the movie “Signs” boasts a 75% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 6.9 out of 10 from 240 respected critics. Critics who enjoyed the film commended its rhythm, suspense, and jump scares, while those who were less favorable questioned its portrayal of collective fear following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is possible that this contentious topic contributes to why “Signs” has held up well over time – when viewed outside of this specific context, it appears more genuine.

Regarding the aliens in “Signs”, it’s not particularly terrifying compared to others. Yet, unlike many other space-themed horrors, it manages to make the threat feel incredibly relatable, as if it could invade your own home just after you leave the cinema. Rationally, I believe I stand a better chance against the aliens in “Signs” than against the creature from “Alien: Romulus”. However, emotionally, it’s the alien appearing in an earthly setting that triggers a sense of fear, rather than being confined to a distant space station.

Some people criticize that the conclusion of the movie “Signs” feels rushed and unrealistic. I can’t reveal specifics, but I’m hoping the recent news about drone sightings and military UAP disclosures will have straightforward conclusions too. At present, “Signs” isn’t accessible on any streaming services requiring a subscription, but it is available for purchase or rent on PVOD platforms as well as physical DVDs/Blu-rays.

2025-01-03 01:40

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