Featured Audience Ratings

• Jeff "

  
  The Signal is a decent horror flick that had the potential of being a great film. The problem with this film is that it starts off promising enough, but halfway through it loses its strength, and becomes a decent flick. What could have been an effective horror flick is brought down by… More
  The Signal is a decent horror flick that had the potential of being a great film. The problem with this film is that it starts off promising enough, but halfway through it loses its strength, and becomes a decent flick. What could have been an effective horror flick is brought down by a weak second half. The film is watchable, but it could have been reworked a bit because there are some good ideas on-screen. The films cast do a pretty decent job here, and the plot is pretty interesting as well. The films faults lie in the second half of the film where it falls apart. I think it'\s a shame because this could have been a memorable horror flick with an effective plot. Unfortunately, The Signal leaves you wanting a bit more from the story, and as a horror film. This is a low-budget psycho Slasher film that almost gets it right. The script was good, but like I previously stated, if only there could have been a bit more effort put into the second half, it would have made The Signal a much more memorable ride. There are some elements that work well, but most of them don't quite get there. However you do see the potential of a very good horror film here, it's just too bad that some ideas fell flat. Overall a decent horror flick that is worth watching, but it leaves a lot to be desired as well. For a low-budget film, this is a decent try; if only the script would have been reworked a bit, then The Signal would have been a terrific film.

• Ken S

  
  One of those movies where things only occur because the script says so, with a total abandon of logic and plot. Sometimes seeing the signal makes you crazy...sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes people die from multiple blows to the head...sometimes they don't. Sometimes the… More
  One of those movies where things only occur because the script says so, with a total abandon of logic and plot. Sometimes seeing the signal makes you crazy...sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes people die from multiple blows to the head...sometimes they don't. Sometimes the entire world (or at least city) is consumed by the madness...other times people don't seem to understand that their is utter anarchy in the streets. Sometimes a canister of pesticide will make you blind, other times it just makes your eyes sting for a moment or two. Sometimes it's a comedy, sometimes its a drama and other times it's a horror flick. The constantly shifting perspective completely kills all attempts to build tension and the characters are all down right stupid. Why am I supposed to care about a bunch of adolescent adults acting like children? The female love interest in particular is the worst kind of heroine cliche. Now I will give the filmmakers props for making a movie that looks descent in 13 days for $50k, but SHAME on them for going forward with this script. The Signal could have been really good, but instead it just ends up becoming a crapticopia of tedious nonsense.

• Bruce B

  
  .A very funny slasher / horror film, A Electronic Signal is being transmitted on the phones, TV and Radio which make people kill each other there are only a few sane people left, very comical scenes. This film changes the course of infectious zombie movies. Opens like a 1970 Drive in… More
  .A very funny slasher / horror film, A Electronic Signal is being transmitted on the phones, TV and Radio which make people kill each other there are only a few sane people left, very comical scenes. This film changes the course of infectious zombie movies. Opens like a 1970 Drive in Movie and turns to pure fun. 4 1/2 stars

• Jani H

  
  "Do you have the crazy?" Low budget horror flicks are a pain in the ass nowadays. So many distributors are releasing mediocre films in hope of easy money. The fans of the genre will probably watch any movie that has some terrifying eyes and some blood on the movie poster.… More
  "Do you have the crazy?" Low budget horror flicks are a pain in the ass nowadays. So many distributors are releasing mediocre films in hope of easy money. The fans of the genre will probably watch any movie that has some terrifying eyes and some blood on the movie poster. 'The Signal' started with an interesting beginning but what happened then? A mysterious signal that shows on the TV, comes out from the radio and phones, fucks up the minds and turns people in to killers. That's the story. But there's gotta be more, right? Ok, there's Ben and Mya who have an affair. It simply ain't interesting. 'The Signal' doesn't know what it wants to be. The movie has three chapters, all directed by three different directors. I don't know who directed which chapter but like in so many other movies that have too many minds controling the outcome, 'The Signal' turns out to be a mess. The first chapter was very interesting. It reminded me of '28 Days Later', slowly developing the interest of the viewer. It's not explained what has happened, so you'd think that at some point, something would be said. You'd think? When the second chapter starts, 'The Signal' suddenly turns in to a black comedy. Why's that? It felt really disappointing and I thought that it would only be a small period of the movie. Then the third chapter started and it continued as the same with small influences of David Lynch's style. One movie, divided in three chapter's with one story, directed by three men. And it seems as if the only one who knows what he's doing was the first chapters director. Another major fault is that there's like zero character development. The lead characters aren't interesting at all, nothing is said of their past, how they got in to their situations in their lifes. Three chapters have three different lead characters. All of 'em are connected with some way but it just doesn't get interesting at all. The cinematography, on the other hand, is very nice. Like I said earlier, the film reminds me of '28 Days (and Weeks) Later', so those who liked the look in there, will surely like the camera work in 'The Signal'. When there's some blood and gore (and it ain't that often..), it's done extremely well. There where some scenes that even looked original, which is nice 'cause the films of the genre look so often the same. I don't know. I feel so disappointed. It started well, continued horribly and ended terribly. Nothing is explained and it just feels as if the writers themself had lost the purpose of the film. The premise of the story was good so in better hands, maybe this could've been something satisfying?

• Aaron N

  
  Clark: Anna, I need a couple of things that Ken borrowed, namely my hatchet... and some garbage bags. An awesome, original, independent horror film. Divided into three distinct parts, all featuring the same characters within the same narrative, but written and directed by three… More
  Clark: Anna, I need a couple of things that Ken borrowed, namely my hatchet... and some garbage bags. An awesome, original, independent horror film. Divided into three distinct parts, all featuring the same characters within the same narrative, but written and directed by three different directors, the film manages to stay fresh throughout, mixing the tone, providing some fun, and becoming trippy, but nevertheless intriguing. The story is set in the city of Terminus. The new year is approaching, but the world may be in trouble. A mysterious signal is being emitted from every TV, phone, and radio in the area, causing anyone who stares at it long enough to become mesmerized in some way, leading them to perform acts of violence. At the center of this particular story, the lead characters are a wife, her lover, and her husband. Each of these characters are separately the stars of each distinct act, or "transmission," as it is called in the film. The film opens with an admittedly creepy as well as bizarre couple of minutes from another film, before getting into this story, where the first act functions as a drama/horror film. The second act lightens things up at first, working (well) as a very dark comedy, with the characters being very much aware of the genre cliches. The third act settles back into thriller territory, as well as trying to deliver a meaning to the circumstances seen in this film. Lewis Denton: The TV must've gotten into his head and told him to kill you. Anna: Yeah, that's what happened to Ken. He was watching TV and it made him go bad. [two people run from a man chasing them with a chainsaw in the background] Clark: This is without a doubt the most fucked up day in the history of mankind. We should go back inside. Anna: [cheerful] Who wants cocktails? I had no idea what I was getting into with this film, beyond a basic idea of the premise. I was incredibly happy with how offbeat, yet well made this whole thing was. Each act is distinct, working well for different reasons. The first two in particular have some pretty great things going for it. The first is incredible due to its sound design and the almost claustrophobic hand held style running throughout. The second works due to how well the comedy is balanced, as it is just thrown into this movie, most likely catching you off guard, all while still remaining incredibly bloody. The third is still well made, but bringing in an almost existential reasoning behind the signal is not something easily done within a half an hour. So much of this movie is very well done. If anyone is looking for an original horror film, this is certainly a good place to start. Its well crafted, well acted, plenty bloody, entertaining, and intriguing. Clark: It was self defense. Anna: You chopped his head off! Lewis Denton: He had it coming... probably. These are wild times. Everybody's been driven to desperate measures. I guess this happens to everybody.

• Gordon A

  
  Very low rent horror with a TV signal turning people psychotic.. Directed by three people in three sections - the second is a misjudged stab at comedy. It should have stuck to the '28 Days/Weeks' vibe of the opener and closer. It tries to distinguish its self from the zombie… More
  Very low rent horror with a TV signal turning people psychotic.. Directed by three people in three sections - the second is a misjudged stab at comedy. It should have stuck to the '28 Days/Weeks' vibe of the opener and closer. It tries to distinguish its self from the zombie hordes with the varying psychoses the receivers suffer but it over complicates the interplay at times.

• jd c

  
  This movie leaves your brain exhausted after it's over. The Signal is a furiously perplexed, brain twisting mind-fu*k, from start to finish. And although for those, like myself, who were able to follow the storyline, there comes a point in the movie were you just say "fu*k… More
  This movie leaves your brain exhausted after it's over. The Signal is a furiously perplexed, brain twisting mind-fu*k, from start to finish. And although for those, like myself, who were able to follow the storyline, there comes a point in the movie were you just say "fu*k it." You remove your thinking cap, and still with acceptance and understanding of it's overall outline, you let the movie speak on it's own terms through methods of loopy insanity, and just watch as it does the thinking for you with displays of mayhem and bloody carnage. You won't grab a hold of this movie, it grabs a hold of you, and like it's characters as they quickly loose their minds through frequency levels, you'll loose yours through your TV set. It's a wicked experience for sure, but one that's also quite a mess. My complaints would be the pace of the film. It's too quick and flashy for a movie of it's kind, with such a complex story. It's a story that has a lot more going on than what they actually show. With a story like this you shouldn't dive into the action right away, but yet get the characters acquainted, and ease us into the story a little more before just jumping into apocalyptic mayhem. Every good script should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. The Signal just has a middle, if you catch my drift. There was a lot more of a story to be told here. It was like taking a Stephen King novel and fitting it into 35 minute sitcom. It just wouldn't work at all. But than again, it worked on behalf of the whole "insanity" concept, only it screamed out greater potential more than what was actually offered to us. My other complaint is the idea of them using as much comedy as they did. At first the movie took a serious tone, one that was very disturbing, then 40 minutes into the film it pulled a spoof like sense of humor from it's ass. And about 35 minutes after that, the movie was dead serious again. The outrageous humor in the middle just didn't fit, it didn't go along well with the story, it didn't need it, and it will most likely throw a lot of people off. Almost like an anthology film The Signal was told in separate stories, but unlike like one it was all in the same setting, and with the same characters. But like lots of anthologies, there's always the worse of the bunch, and the middle story is definitely the worse here. The Signal would have been fantastic without these flaws, but in it's own right it's still an enjoyable twisted little flick. The acting was good enough, the script was well thought out, and it had a great complex story, one that's disturbing and bloody as hell. I wouldn't watch this movie again, I don't think, but it definitely didn't fail to entertain me this one time. The Signal is a fast and twisted horror gem that'll please most people. It's a love it or hate it kind of movie it seems, by reading other reviews, so you just have to judge for yourself. I recommend this film for horror fans looking for a different kind of horror movie. It's one hell of a ride. <img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/TheSignal.jpg">

• Drew S

  
  Loved it! 50,000 dollars never looked so great or played so tightly. Other ultra-low budget horror films haven't got a leg to stand on now. If there's one flaw, it's a little difficult to sell post-apocalyptica on so little money - where are the overhead tracking shots?… More
  Loved it! 50,000 dollars never looked so great or played so tightly. Other ultra-low budget horror films haven't got a leg to stand on now. If there's one flaw, it's a little difficult to sell post-apocalyptica on so little money - where are the overhead tracking shots? The waves of insane people? The Signal does a decent job of allowing it to the imagination, but still, that lack of scope does shine through at times. Why are there so few people at a train terminal on New Year's Eve? The bizarre, and admittedly awkward, tone shift half an hour in will certainly preclude the movie from any sort of widespread recognition, but I thought it added something vital and interesting to a somewhat tired premise. I think genre-bending is still quite difficult for a lot of people to accept, which makes things harder on The Signal's kind of average delivery of its humor, but all in all the reception is indicative of American need for tidy packaging. Not just great as a low-budget horror film, but great period, The Signal deserves a view from just about anyone. Shame this didn't get much of a theatrical release.

• Robert C

  
  The film that couldn't decide what it wanted to be when it grew up. The story is divided into three "chapters". The first is extremely simple, yet very creepy and tension filled look at the "begining of the end". I was really impressed by this chapter… More
  The film that couldn't decide what it wanted to be when it grew up. The story is divided into three "chapters". The first is extremely simple, yet very creepy and tension filled look at the "begining of the end". I was really impressed by this chapter and it gave me high hopes for the rest of the film. Chapter two was the continuation of the story, but with a "dark humor" twist (a la "Sean Of The Dead"), which on it's own wouldn't have been so bad...but as a follow-up to the powerful first chapter, was a bit disapointing. The third chapeter was meant to "wrap things up" but is kind of all over the board and ultimately a weak ending to what is a very powerful begining. If they would have just carried the look and feel of the first chapter, through the entire film...this could have been a really amazing piece of work.

• A.D. V

  
  Derivative and a bit slow but the last "transmission" makes up for it.

• Dean L

  
  Something happens when you take a good gore and horror movie "over the top"...it touches comedy. Think about it and it makes sense. Those movies that can tap into this and do it well are rare. "The Signal" succeeds in so many ways where other movies of this type… More
  Something happens when you take a good gore and horror movie "over the top"...it touches comedy. Think about it and it makes sense. Those movies that can tap into this and do it well are rare. "The Signal" succeeds in so many ways where other movies of this type have failed it is hard to keep track. This is definitely taut, gory, tension filled horror. This will get under your skin as the social mores are lost to the "signal" which has had an impact on our primitive brain allowing us to find vicious murder not only acceptable, but a curiosity to be examined. Broken into three acts all directed by different players from the film each part takes on its own special nuance, each to be savored. Madness is let loose in Terminus and there are few who do not succumb to it. There is nothing spared in the depiction of the carnage and then...we break to laughter. Some might say that this also breaks the tension or screws up the pacing, but I disagree. This movie was able to achieve this with very little "camp," but real comedic virtue amidst a virtual slaughterhouse. You will cringe and then you will laugh out loud. Not because it is cheesy, but because it actually gets funny and then goes back to horror...and back again. Sometimes it is a nervous laughter that will grip you and sometimes it will be comedy served on a platter. You won't know whether to hold on tight for fear or tears of gut-busting laughter. The vacillation between the two genres is so effective and seamless that you really have to see it to appreciate how well it has been done. I watched this movie on recommendation and I am so glad that I did. It is not high on any "I watched this list" that I have seen so I hope that word of mouth will get it around as this movie is really one that you should not miss if you are a fan of the genre.

• Steve K

  
  A different film than I expected. More humor and drama, less gore. A different take on rage than I expected. Need to watch it again to really form a full opinion.

• _kelly .

  
  The premise of The Crazies receives the treatment and production the concept deserves in this new flick. Enough blood to satisfy any media vamps out there, and more than enough story to hold the cynical horror fan tendencies at bay. Some nice little scenes of insanity, and I… More
  The premise of The Crazies receives the treatment and production the concept deserves in this new flick. Enough blood to satisfy any media vamps out there, and more than enough story to hold the cynical horror fan tendencies at bay. Some nice little scenes of insanity, and I don't want to give anything away because you should just see it. There are a few things the discerning viewer would gripe about, but compared to its contemporaries, this is a freshly sliced chunk of violent psychological horror that implements enough fun little cinematic techniques to tickle even the staunchest of classical film students. This is a horror film that I can confidently recommend to those outside the horror hound camp; this is a damn good scary movie as well as a thoughtfully structured tale and depiction. See it!

• Brian D

  
  Very muddle movie.Can not make up it's mind if it's a horror,love story or a comedy.Good start shit middle and a boring finale.Very disapointing!

• Lorenzo v

  
  "Do you have the crazy?" When a mysterious transmission invades every cellphone, TV and radio, it turns every human who comes into contact with it into mindless killing machines. The story is divided into three parts (Transmissions): Part I is "Crazy in Love". It… More
  "Do you have the crazy?" When a mysterious transmission invades every cellphone, TV and radio, it turns every human who comes into contact with it into mindless killing machines. The story is divided into three parts (Transmissions): Part I is "Crazy in Love". It tells the story of a woman, Maya, who is married to Lewis. She is also having a pre-marital affair with Ben. Maya and Ben plans to elope New Year's eve but all is not well when The Signal starts to spread. It tells the beginning of the end through the eyes of Maya. Its probably safe to say that this bit is the scariest out of the three. When people just starts to kill each other without any logic or deep thought, that's probably the scariest thing that could happen to you. So, we have Maya instantly thrown into a chaotic world. What does she do? Put on her headphones and head straight to Terminal 13, the meeting place of her and Ben. The second transmission is "The Jealousy Monster". This time, the story is focused on Lewis, Maya's husband. A couple of characters is introduced but only one is given a bigger part: Dan the landlord. Lewis tracks down Maya but ends up in some house. Having been exposed to the transmission, we witness Lewis turn from a guy to a crazy guy. This bit is without a doubt the funniest one. Not toilet humor crass jokes but rather a dark comedy. If Transmission 1 tells the beginning of the end, Transmission 2 tells you what will happen if you come in contact with the Signal. And alas, we have Transmission 3. It tells the story of Ben, Maya's secret lover. Apparently, Ben is also looking for Maya. But he ended up in the back of Lewis's trunk with a big gash in his head. With the help of Dan the landlord and with Lewis hot on his tail, Ben heads to Terminal 13. The following sequences is probably the freakiest part of the whole film. You keep guessing: was Lewis actually Ben and Ben is Lewis? What happens to Maya? Did Dan die from asphyxia? All these questions were actually never really answered. It was so blurry until the last shot of Maya rolling into tears with the headphone in her head. I'm glad it ended that way. It was not answered yes but maybe there were no questions at all. That's the beauty of this film. It does not spoon feed everything and it doesn't really tell the spread of the Signal in a massive scale but instead, we are constrained into three characters. You can call it experimental, horror, black comedy or even a love story. Me, I call it "The Signal". (omg, that was so cheesy lol)

• Mike N

  
  Two many posts... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/neumdaddy/twospost.jpg[/img] (is this two much use of the "two" pun? Very well.) Hey. Oscars are tomorrow. I made predictions in the previous entry. Saw a good horror / sci-fi / mindbender called The Signal.… More
  Two many posts... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/neumdaddy/twospost.jpg[/img] (is this two much use of the "two" pun? Very well.) Hey. Oscars are tomorrow. I made predictions in the previous entry. Saw a good horror / sci-fi / mindbender called The Signal. Go see it. There was an interesting topic in the OT forums yesterday, about recurring nightmares. Not just the same nightmare, but the frequency of nightmares one experiences. Now, I have bizarre dreams, same as anybody. But I have a history of unthinkably disturbing dreams. Sometimes as often as a few times a week. (lately not as often, however) There are others who experience this phenomenon, but the affect it has on their rest appears to differ from person to person. One who experiences recurring nightmares may have a correlating restlessness, and herky-jerky wakefulness. Others, like myself, seem to shrug it off and dismiss it as the flights of fancy they are. I do have my gasping wakefulness at times, too...but, largely, it's a peaceful transition between these realities. Sure, these horrific circumstances played to phantasmagoric effect in my subconscious give me pause (not just your standard zombie apocalpyse in gruesome detail, but heinous acts committed by one's self to loved ones, family members suffering great tragedy, experiencing the emotional desperation of knowing you're about to die), but it doesn't feel like such morbid thoughts and subsequent somber reflection on them have manifested in my daily life in any grim, negative manner. Oftentimes I mine these dreams for inspiration in writing and drawing, just as many others would. Can these still be called "nightmares" if I don't react so dramatically do them (waking up in cold sweats, middle-of-the-night fashion, like one may see in a Freddie Krueger movie)? I wonder if the psychology of the traditional nightmare has more subtle transitions into daytime living, and I'm certain there are studies on this... just that it seems to exist outside the conventional understanding on the subject. So, do you guys have recurring nightmares? Any profoundly disturbing instances in dreamlife that shook you to your core, and sometimes randomly resurfaces in either dream or waking life (a "daymare" perhaps)? Come, my people, and speak to me of your dreams and the dark things beyond. [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/neumdaddy/twosedit.jpg[/img]

• Ryan M

  
  *** out of **** A city, an apartment complex, a small household, the streets. It does not matter where you are: for the noise will catch up to you either way. "The Signal" is a frightening, ingenious independent horror film about mysterious transmissions that are… More
  *** out of **** A city, an apartment complex, a small household, the streets. It does not matter where you are: for the noise will catch up to you either way. "The Signal" is a frightening, ingenious independent horror film about mysterious transmissions that are communicated by radio and television broadcasts. It is also a story divided into three simple acts; each meant to say something interesting about human nature - with the overall message divided amongst several people. They're normal inner and outer city residents; living the good and decidedly normal life until strange colors and images start to invade their flat screens. It isn't long before their neighbors and close friends go mad and embark on little individual killing sprees. To me, there isn't much sense in me describing all three acts of the movie in extreme detail; so I'll just tell you how it all goes down. As the movie begins, we meet a blonde woman named Mya who is cheating on her husband Lewis (A.J. Bowen) with a skinny tattooed guy named Ben (Justin Welborn). She returns home after spending part of the night at his place, only to find Lewis and his friends fretting over the images that grace the screens of their televisions. We're told that the game was on; but now, there is no game. It doesn't take long for Lewis to become delusional and unreasonably pissed off (usually about ridiculous things), and at that, he kills one of his friends, while the other one (a black dude, of course) escapes. Mya also flees the scene and meets up with that very black dude, although it's safe to say that they're not together for long; even though it is worth mentioning that he has a cool little home-made weapon that he uses to slay the crazies. Another segment focuses on a suburban home, where a whole lot goes down. The house belongs to a woman named Anna and her husband, who she has killed after he caught on to the crazy virus thingy. This is a shame, for they were planning a big New Year's Eve party with a lot of people planning to attend, and many decorations already set up. But now, there are more serious matters at hand; and Lewis arrives at the house (as does a neighbor named Scott, played by Scott Poythress) with a tank full of insecticide, which he uses to blind his victims. This is sort of an intriguing part of the movie, since it deals with a number of different tones. While in the house: there is dark and deadpan comedy, gruesome horror, discreet social satire, and relentless apprehension. It's both humorous and scary; because to me, the situation feels real, and so do a good number of these people - whether the movie intends for them to be objects for satire or not. The problem that critics seem to have with the movie is the fact that perhaps it is attempting to tackle too much at one time and try too many things at once. Indeed it is; but rather than scoff at how uneven and absurd it gets in some instances, I was left intrigued and satisfied. It's a brutal, diabolical experience of a movie, and while it may not be perfect, it has some welcome human touches laced with aspects of comedy and genuine terror. It may not be as original as it wants to be either; but oh, what the hell. This is still a damn engaging movie. Made on a relatively low budget of only $50,000 and shot in just thirteen days; the work that went into "The Signal" is pretty darn impressive. For an indie outing, I'd say it's nicely played, and for me it works. There are some clever moments where the influence and inspiration to make the film shines through; such as one where the black dude's decapitated head is brought back to life a la "Re-Animator". True, not all the scenes are particularly memorable, but almost all of them are worth praising. There is suspense, there are scares, and there's also some decent human drama. I never found it absolutely compelling - or even emotionally resonant - but the movie makes it its job to scare us, and it does that quite well. Just try to forget the fact that it kind of resembles a Stephen King novel with a similar premise, and you will probably be alright. But then again...maybe not. The actors are convincing, and the direction from the visionary threesome - David Bruckner, Dan Bush, and Jacob Gentry - is suitably riveting. For something that cost so little to make, it does a whole lot more than what most Hollywood horror movies do. That's saying something; given that I'm not one to just dismiss every Hollywood horror production that comes along. I am accepting and open-minded, always willing to have fun when fun does indeed come my way, but nowadays; the independent films are taking the world by storm, and "The Signal" skillfully feeds the need for unforgiving and savage entertainment. One moment bleak and another breathtakingly intense; if this is what someone can do with a handheld movie camera, I'd think our future is a whole lot brighter than we initially thought. You know, as long as the movie doesn't imitate life.

• Jacob P

  
  A creepy paranormal film.

• Daniel P

  
  <i>"Er... that was kinda odd; what are you saying?"</i><p>Ohmygosh, this is brilliant, brilliant stuff. With verve and intelligence <i>The Signal</i> accomplishes so much on a TINY budget that I can't help but be completely overwhelmed, and… More
  <i>"Er... that was kinda odd; what are you saying?"</i><p>Ohmygosh, this is brilliant, brilliant stuff. With verve and intelligence <i>The Signal</i> accomplishes so much on a TINY budget that I can't help but be completely overwhelmed, and ignore any (mostly cost related) failings. <p>Told in three parts with three different directors and from three different, but connected and blurred, points of view, the concept sounds on paper like a mish-mash of Stephen King's <i>Cell</i> (which I'm still waiting impatiently for a film adaptation on) and the <i>28 Days/Weeks Later</i> films. But there's a lot more to it than that - this isn't a straightforward pseudo-zombie flick, as the signal in <i>The Signal</i> not only insights homicidal rage but also fucks up people's perceptions. The damage this does to the characters would only be involving if there are people to actually care about, and luckily the film doesn't rely merely on its concept but also the skill of the actors and the idiosyncrasies they bring to the screen. Especially effective in this regard is Anessa Ramsey as Mya, who is our way into the film and whose perspective the first part of the story we see things from. Ramsey truly brings so much with very little dialogue - her reactions are completely believable, making the third, final section especially difficult to watch and the ending poignant and bittersweet. The bizarre shift in tone to black comedy in the second section, sort of <i>Frasier</i>-esque in delivery but with the knowledge that lives really are at stake, works exceptionally well. <p>Though the budget limitations inevitably mean the scale is not as grand as hinted at (there are precious few city shots, and those that we do see look too obviously like they were filmed at 3 AM in order to get the required 'deserted' look), there is so much going on here and it's handled with such panache that I found myself with jaw open on many an occasion. This is so very good, and together with <i>Splinter</i> has reasserted my faith in American horror. Best of all, in the end, <u>it's all about love</u>. <p><i>"Even with that faraway stare, she looks just like she did in our wedding video."</i><p>P.S. <u>Loved</u> the ending.<p>P.P.S. Don't ask me why, but Scott Poythress (Clark) really does things for me.

• Duncan R

  
  Unconventional, imperfect, yet still surprisingly entertaining despite it's faults. The premise was original, and although the characters could've used a little more fleshing out, the cast that portrays them manages to hold your interest from the chaotic start, through the… More
  Unconventional, imperfect, yet still surprisingly entertaining despite it's faults. The premise was original, and although the characters could've used a little more fleshing out, the cast that portrays them manages to hold your interest from the chaotic start, through the pulse-pounding climax, and all the way to the bittersweet ending. It's not the greatest horror movie I've seen, but it certainly is original. And with new sequels to <i>Saw</i> and remakes upon remakes of Japanese chillers and '80s slashers clogging up the multiplexes, originality is what makes <i>The Signal</i> worthy of any movie buff's time.

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