I’ve Always Disliked M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs, But After Rewatching, I Now Think It’s His Last Truly Great Movie

by

I understand a lot of people believe M. Night Shyamalan’s only truly great film is The Sixth Sense. It’s still rare for a horror movie to receive a Best Picture nomination, and that film did.

I’ve always believed M. Night Shyamalan directed two truly exceptional films: The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable – Unbreakable is actually my personal favorite. But I agree with a lot of other fans that his best work came earlier in his career, though I know some people really enjoy Split as well.

While most people have their opinions on M. Night Shyamalan’s films, a very small group thinks he’s created three truly exceptional movies, including Signs. I used to disagree, but after watching it again recently, I’m starting to see their point. Here’s my reasoning.

Signs Builds Its Alien Premise Slowly, Effectively, And Perhaps, Even Metaphorically

I have a distinct memory – though it might be a dream – of a special featuring M. Night Shyamalan before Signs was released. He apparently said the movie wasn’t simply about aliens. I was pretty young at the time, around 19, so I may have misunderstood and thought he meant there was a deeper meaning beyond a basic alien invasion story.

I was pretty disappointed when I first saw the movie in 2002. The director had said it wasn’t about aliens, so I felt misled when aliens actually appeared! But after watching it again, I understood the difference. The movie doesn’t center on aliens like films such as Alien or Predator do; aliens are simply in the movie. Let me explain what I mean.

The movie stars Mel Gibson as a priest who lost his faith after his wife tragically died in a car accident. He’s raising his two children with the help of his brother, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who has been a support since the tragedy. That’s just the beginning, though – strange crop circles are appearing worldwide, hinting that aliens are slowly invading Earth, and the film builds suspense as this unfolds.

I think the aliens in this movie represent the unpredictable and uncontrollable things that happen in life – things like losing a loved one or dealing with a child’s illness. Even though we can’t control these events, we still need to find ways to cope and live our lives, just as the characters in the film deal with the alien presence.

This Movie Also Still Has Shyamalan’s Scariest Moment To Date

Many people believe a movie needs to be rated R to be truly frightening, but that’s not true. Films like The Ring, The Grudge, and M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense are all examples of PG-13 movies that are genuinely scary.

While I think The Sixth Sense is generally frightening, the most truly scary moment in any movie directed by M. Night Shyamalan still happens in that film.

The scare Shyamalan creates in this one scene reminds me of the unsettling Winkies moment in Mulholland Drive, which I think of as a horror film. Anyone who’s seen Signs knows the scene I mean—the party with the alien. On its own, it’s not particularly frightening, but within the movie, it’s genuinely terrifying!

This relates to what I mentioned before – the movie does a fantastic job of establishing the alien threat. It’s unsettling because the family hasn’t actually seen the aliens yet. Joaquin Phoenix’s character first learns about them by watching a news report, and that’s what makes it truly frightening. We identify with him and imagine how terrifying it would be to witness something like that on television. It genuinely gives you goosebumps!

The Sense Of Grief In This Movie Is Palpable

You know, I’ve been thinking about Signs again, and it really hits me that it’s a movie with aliens, not necessarily about them. Rewatching it, I realize how much more I pick up on the film’s portrayal of grief, and I think that’s the core of what makes it so powerful. It’s less about the alien invasion itself and more about how these characters are dealing with loss.

Mel Gibson stars as Graham Hess, a priest who has lost his faith after the tragic death of his wife in a car accident. He questions why he should believe in God when prayers couldn’t save her. Throughout the movie, Graham struggles with grief until he unexpectedly finds a new sense of purpose, though it comes in a form he never anticipated.

I really feel for Ray Reddy, Shyamalan’s character. It turns out he was the one who accidentally caused Graham’s wife’s death, and you can just feel his pain throughout the movie. He fell asleep driving home from a party, and it was a terrible accident. Now, he’s stuck with an alien in his house, and honestly, it feels like he’s trapped by his own guilt, which is why he’s constantly sitting in the same car where it all happened. It’s heartbreaking, really.

It’s all deep stuff, and definitely much better than I ever remembered it being.

I Actually Don’t Hate The “Swing Away, Merrill” Climax Anymore, Either

There were two things that bothered me when I first saw this movie. First, the idea that water could actually kill the aliens felt ridiculous. And second, the way one alien was attacked with a baseball bat reminded me of a scene from the movie Casino – you’d have to see Casino to understand the comparison!

After watching it again, I don’t dislike the movie. It actually makes sense for Joaquin Phoenix’s character. Considering his character’s background as a baseball player, the idea of him ‘swinging away’ ties nicely to a final request from his sister-in-law. However, it does feel a little forced, and unfortunately, it still distracts me from fully enjoying the film.

Despite its flaws, I don’t think the movie is completely ruined. You can see a turning point for Graham when he delivers that intense look and says, “Swing away, Merrill,” suggesting his faith is returning. And while I still find the scene where water kills the alien a bit silly, it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to, and doesn’t completely detract from the film.

I could be biased because I’m familiar with the director’s later work, but that’s a discussion for another time.

I Like Most Of Shyamalan Films, But After Rewatching Signs, I Think This Is His Last Masterpiece

Despite recently joking about some of M. Night Shyamalan’s more recent movies, I actually enjoy quite a few of them. I’ve previously discussed how I believe Lady in the Water is an underrated masterpiece, and I’ve even come to the defense of After Earth, a film that doesn’t seem to have many fans.

I do like those films, but I wouldn’t call either of them a masterpiece. Actually, after watching Signs again, I’ve changed my mind – I think it might be a masterpiece after all.

This film creates a wonderfully eerie atmosphere. The way the story slowly reveals the presence of aliens is truly original, although the ending felt a little weak. Beyond the sci-fi elements, it also offers a thoughtful exploration of coping with loss.

So, yeah, I now think Signs is a masterpiece. Do you agree? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Read More

2026-01-13 19:13