The Signal Review

Written by: moviemaven   

Possibly one of the most creative films I have seen in a while, The Signal is more like three movies in one. Filmed in three acts with three separate writers and directors, viewers have the pleasure of watching distinctively different styles come together to form one very good story.

In the first act, "Crazy in Love," written and directed by David Bruckner, the tale begins with a woman who is cheating on her husband on New Year's Eve. Suddenly all phone, television and radio signals are replaced with a mysterious garbled pattern. Thinking nothing of it, she heads home to find herself in the midst of a world going mad. People everywhere are going off their nut and killing everyone in sight for no foreseeable reason. The trick here is trying to decipher who "has the crazy" so that you may survive. This portion of the film is dark and haunting like any good apocalyptic film should be. It contains some truly frightening moments of gore and screaming in the distance. Just the right environment for the willies to thrive.

On to the second part "The Jealousy Monster" by Jacob Gentry. This section has a completely different tone. It sweeps in and takes you out of the doom only to land you in the middle of the crazy with a giddiness I have to admire. The characters in this sequence are comical and dark and the entire thing is reminiscent of a Tarantino film in its ability to take you off guard. As much as I was in love with the first part of the film for the reasons I mentioned earlier, I loved the second even more for the reasons I mentioned just now. If you look carefully, you may even note a hint of Cronenberg. I saw it. See if you can too.

Dan Bush brings up the rear and closes the story nicely with "Escape from Terminus." Bloody and battle scarred, our hero Ben attempts to locate his love (wife from above) after successfully brushing off her deranged husband, Lewis...several times. But things are never as simple as planned. Be warned, you never know where these guys are going to take you and you can be sure it won't be a happy place.

I would be remiss to leave out the superb effects as well as the complete feeling of desolation they were able to achieve. Using clever dream sequences to keep you from getting too comfortable, this capable trio weaves a tale that is part gore, part satire and every bit enjoyable. Watch what happens when we finally allow ourselves to be taken over by the media we depend on daily. You never know who you can trust.

I would also like to mention that it hails from my hometown, Atlanta, and the name "Terminus" is the former name of said city. Nice one, guys.