Celebrating 25 Years As They See the SIGNS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and Digital from writer/director M. Night Shyamalan and Walt Disney Home Entertainment is the reason we fear the unknown when there are SIGNS.

Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) is a widower and ex-episcopal priest who is raising his two children Morgan (Rory Culkin) and Bo (Abigail Breslin). Also living on their farm is Graham’s younger brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix). One morning, Graham is woken up to the screams of daughter Bo out in the middle of their corn field. When he reaches the children, they show him that the corn has been pushed down in a distinct pattern.

He calls Officer Caroline Paski (Cherry Jones) reporting the discovering thinking that it was the doing of local town boys with a history of causing mayhem. Not long after, the news is reporting strange things happening all around the world as Graham and Merrill try to keep the kids away from it all until, they truly know more. Morgan discovers that using a baby monitor might help them listen in on the strange happenings in the field but it is Graham who sees for himself.

That’s when the family goes into lockdown to not only save their home but each other from whatever has decided that the planet should belong to them – they are in for a big surprise!

Gibson as Graham is a loving father who is having a difficult time being a widow. Doing right by his children, he also struggles with his faith and shuts down when people mention it to him. Once he realizes there are beings out there, he has a new struggle in protecting his children and understanding why it is all happening. This was a strong role for Gibson and that is in the proof that his performance still stands.

Phoenix as brother Merrill lives in an ADU (before ADU’s were even a thing) and helps where he can. Once the mystery lands on their doorstep, he tries to find a meaning to it and does so in the children. Phoenix’s character has its own backstory that haunts him as well and now he has the opportunity to help his brother defend the farm.

Culkin as Morgan is the reader of the family and makes sure that at least one of the family members is informed by ‘experts’. Morgan is smart and doesn’t hesitate to jump into the unknown to find out all he can to help the family survive what is happening around him. Culkin’s performance feels as if he is the adult in all of this and I was with him every step.

Breslin as Bo has a bit of her own way of seeing the world and no one is going to stop her from seeing it any differently. She is also very smart, loves her brother Morgan fiercely and isn’t afraid to say exactly like it is. I just love the character of Bo and the dance she does at the end still sticks in my memory.

Jones as officer Paski is a bit quirky but has a past with Graham that even she can’t shake. Trying to help them solve the field mystery, she is also about to deal with something she has no answer for. I am a huge fan of Jones and have followed her career for a long time. She is just a wonderful presence on the screen, even in smaller roles and that says something about her ability to make herself memorable.

Other cast include Ted Sutton as Cunningham, Merritt Wever as Tracey Abernathy, Lanny Flaherty as Carl Nathan, Marion McCorry as Mrs. Nathan, Patricia Kalember as Colleen and M. Night Shyamalan as Ray Reddy.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!

SIGNS came into theatres in 2002 and my family and I were in line on day one. We love a good alien tale and this film is so much more than that. Yes, there are aliens to be sure but, this is also a film about a family dealing with grief, love, understanding and a fierce loyalty to one another. That is the part of the story that I truly loved so much, the aliens are just a fantastic bonus.

The film was such a success that it garnered nominations from the Online Film Critics Society and the Empire Awards and won an award from the American Society of Composers. The film was actually shot in different parts of Pennsylvania but an interesting side note in that the house and field are owned by the Delaware Valley University agricultural college.

Shyamalan, once again, brings a stellar story to the screen, and now 4K Ultra HD, keeping the cast to a minimum and focusing on the family. Having his films as part of my home entertainment library means that when the family wants to have a thriller movie night, we go straight to the shelf that houses all of his films. That is what a fantastic family night with a big screen television and a sound bar can do!

THE SIXTH SENSE and SIGNS, are available for the first time ever in stunning 4K UHD digital now, and 4K UHD Blu-ray disc on October 22. A special bundle opportunity will also be available at digital retailers on August 27 which includes: THE SIXTH SENSE 4K UHD, SIGNS 4K UHD and UNBREAKABLE 4K UHD.

In the end – it’s not like they didn’t warn us!