Friday, December 05, 2008
Michael Allen
A mysterious signal invades every cell phone, radio, and television transmission and turns the population of one large city into violent, raging, aggressive killers. The trick for some is to see through the lies of the signal, and to work together for a solution to block out the transmission, but most succumb to their primitive impulses and reek chaos on the city. The death toll rises while more and more people tune out to reason and tune in to the signal (Internet).
Rating: Restricted for strong brutal bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and brief nudity.
Release Date: February 22, 2008
Starring: Anessa Ramsey, Sahr Ngaujah, AJ Bowen, Matthew Stanton, Justin Welborn, Cheri Christian, Scott Poythress, and Christopher Thomas.
Director: David Bruckner.
Some background...
"The Signal," is an independent psychological horror film from writer and director David Bruckner along with his associates; Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry, and Alexander A. Motlagh. Straight out of Atlanta "The Signal," saw its premier at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival where Magnolia Pictures bought the distribution rights. Made for the amazingly small budget of $50,000 "The Signal," tells three stories centering around a bizarre transmission whose source remains a mystery (Wiki.).
The review...
An excellent tale with three short stories interweaving into a climactic confrontation with subliminal messages ruining the lives of many of the title characters in "The Signal." "Crazy in Love," "The Jealousy Monster," and "Escape from Terminus," are the titles of the transmissions, which cover the bloody horror, horror-comedy, and romantic genres all in one frighteningly funny film. The initial thirty minutes are not for the faint of heart as the blood letting goes from a few knife scratches to lethal amputations in minutes.
The intensity and aggressiveness of the first short undergoes a transformation as a new director takes the film into comedic territory and the ending offers a softer tone with the addition of a third director. Somewhat similar to "Grindhouse," with two dueling directors adding their creativity to one film, "The Signal," shows the personalities of three directors who each love telling horror tales. Well written, powerful, and a visceral experience "The Signal," is everything a horror film should try to be.
Themes of mass media influence, identity, passion, and animal instinct, revolve around a three way love story. And told through the eyes of a trio of central characters "The Signal," will stir up a lot of emotions while entertaining throughout. Check out the Ryan Reynolds impression by AJ Bowen in the second chapter, it is worth the price of admission alone.
"The Signal," is a must watch in 2008 and also on this reviewers top ten best horror films of 2008 so far. Do whatever it takes to see "The Signal;" rob a bank if you must to see this film, streak through the video store naked to get this film, or just take five dollars out of your wallet and rent "The Signal," but make sure you watch it at least once!
One of several photos from "The Signal," at http://www.doyouhavethecrazy.com Photos:
Sources:
The Signal at Internet Movie Database
The Signal at Wiki...
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Posted in: 2008,alexander a. motlagh,anessa ramsey,dan bush,david bruckner,horror,independent,jacob gentry,movie,sundance,the signal,thriller
2 comments:
As Jack Nicholson says in "As Good as it Gets," "Go sell your crazy somewhere else we're all stocked up here!."
-Michael Allen
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