The Signal (2007) Movie Review, Trailer, and Poster

U.S. 2007
Director: David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry
Cast: Anessa Ramsey, A. J. Bowen, Justin Welborn, Sahr Ngaujah, Suehyla El-Attar
Rating: R
Release Date: February 22nd 2008
Running Time: 1 hour 44 minutes

The Movie Review

Horror movies have been inspired by many incidents happening around the world, a world where in some particular countries or cities crammed with brutal crimes. With TV networks reporting about crimes and tragedy every day and night that sometimes make us feel like we were surrounded by thugs and killers. However, The Signal gives us new perspective of terror, a terror even closer than those thugs or bad guys. You probably haven't noticed that we are actually surrounded also by weird element, Signal. From your cell phones, radios and most notably TVs. If that signal is altered to be a destructive element instead of amusement, imagine how wrecked people's life and the society would be? This is the main premise of The Signal.


THE SIGNAL
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

The Signal's storyline is, of course, about a mysterious signal being broadcasted through TV, that could even turn on the TV by itself. This signal invades the life of Mya Denton (Anessa Ramsey) and her husband Lewis Denton (A.J. Bowen). Mya escapes the signal because she is simply not watching the TV at the time and listening to a CD that her secret boyfriend, Ben (Justin Welborn) has given to her earlier. Lewis, however, and most of the people in their apartment simply gone crazy and start killing each other heartlessly. Mya makes an effort to save herself and go to the train station where Mya and Ben have planned to go together leaving Lewis behind.

The Signal is a horror movie for sure, but in the middle of it, you might probably a bit confused with its storytelling that jumps from being bloody-gory-horror to bloody-black-comedy and finally to bloody-love-story. Uh-hm, that's because the Signal is divided into three acts (transmissions), and those respective act is directed by a different director. I'm just gonna review those act one-by-one before jumping into the conclusion.

First act, the gore and the horror are thoroughly daunting, with the premise that everybody suddenly is going out of their mind and start to do destructive things, the Signal marks itself as a good doomsday movie. And the gore although could be considered as dry but the way the filmmakers execute it is scary and intense.
Second act, the black comedy is downright funny! It's like the horror version of slapstick-type comedy. The actors are looking at each other, talking and conversing surrounded by occasional and sudden blood-splattering scenes. A comedy that'll make you both sniggering and gaping at the same time.
Third act, the love story is pretty much tasteless and easily forgettable. It’s just persons running around looking for their lover with, of course, bloody scenes too in-between.

Seeing The Signal, at one point is like seeing three different episodes, and if that type of directing suits your taste, it might entertain you. However I personally think that the connection between those three is rather loose, and every time it jumps into another act, a part of the tension is also being thrown away.

Probably the best part of The Signal, aside the main premise, is that this movie is starred by relatively unknown actors who could perform quite well despite several over-the-top acting. The Signal is a kind of horror film that shies away from mainstream taste. At its core The Signal perhaps only a movie with a great premise covered in blood.

© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com