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BLU-RAY REVIEW: The Signal
More Amazing, Original Sci-Fi Hits Hi-Def Home Video...
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Focus Features and Universal Studios Home Entertainment bring sci-fi fans a film that's unlike anything ever before with The Signal. Not to be missed, The Signal originally hit theaters back in June and performed poorly at the box office, raking in only $600,000 in five weeks on the big screen. Working on a fairly small budget of only $4 million and using an impressive amount of both practical and CGI effects with a little known cast of main actors, The Signal has quickly become one of my favorite films of the year thanks to it's emotionally-charged plot and engaging acting.
To say The Signal isn't one of the most unique sci-fi visions to hit screens in years is doing the film a major disservice. There's something both uniquely intriguing as well as hauntingly familiar about the film, which tells the story of three MIT students - Nic (Brenton Thwaites, Maleficent), Haley (Olivia Cooke, Bates Motel), and Jonah (Beau Knapp, Super 8) - on a road trip in search of a mysterious hacker called NOMAD who's exposed security faults in MIT's computer network. The friends find themselves on a roadtrip, tracking the hacker's signal to a remote location where something unexplainable happens. The three lose consciousness only to wake up in a strange isolation ward. Nic (Thwaites) find himself being interviewed/interrogated by Dr. Wallace Damon (Lawrence Fishburne, The Matrix trilogy), who reveals to Nic that he and his friends have been exposed to an EBE: extra-terrestrial biological entity. Nic soon realizes all is not as it seems and if he and his friends are to live, they must ask - and answer - the most important question of their lives: what really happened?
Co-written and directed by William Eubank (Love) along with co-writers/consulting producers Carlyle Eubank and David Frigerio (Wreckage), The Signal does an amazing job of providing a completely original take on the alien thriller genre. With a unique twist ending that's both clever, unexpected, entertaining and exciting, The Signal does something few alien thrillers do: makes you truly care about the characters. Perhaps the most enjoyable thing about the film is the marvelous acting - specifically by Thwaites, a young, up-and-coming actor who I look forward to seeing in many a future film. The exchanges between Thwaites' Nic and Fishburne's Dr. Damon are a centerpiece of the film and reveal more than original observed while the dialogue is extremely precise, leading to the unexpected ending which will, I think, find many viewers re-watching the film to examine the intricacies of the film's tight story.
With a small cast, including the four primary actors - Thwaites, Cooke, Knapp, and Fishburne - as well as Robert Longstreet as James, a disgruntled trucker, and Lin Shaye as Mirabelle, a frightening and delusional good Samaritan, The Signal proves a small cast can carry a film as long as the cast is emotionally-invested in their parts and those parts draw in viewers. Again, because of the emotionally charged acting, I cared about Nic and his friends as they sought to break free from their captors and find the answers to their haunted lives. Throughout the film, the romance burning just below the surface between Nic and Haley becomes clear as Nic is forced to protect Haley on numerous occasions. Likewise, the friendship between Nic and Jonah shows a relationship that's one based on sacrifice and loyalty. Most frightening, the absurd relationship between Nic and Dr. Damon seems both apathetic and as sterile as the windows and white walls of the containment facility. At the same time, Dr. Damon seems wholly invested in what is happening to Nic, Haley and Jonah and wants to both protect them and care for them.
As far as video and audio, the film's 1080p hi-def video presents the film in its original 2.40:1 aspect ration. The colors are beautiful throughout with no blurring or lining. From the earthly tones of the desolate desert to the sterile whites of the containment cells, the colors are bright, clean and clear. Likewise, the film's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio mix brings to life the film's dialogue and sound effects. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand from the front while surround effects - including explosions, gun fire, helicopter blades and more - are used throughout the sound stage to put viewers in the center of the action.
As far as special features, the Blu-ray includes a few worth mentioning. The one that's most impressive is perhaps the feature commentary with director/co-screenwriter William Eubank and co-screenwriters Carlyle Eubank and David Frigerio. The trio discuss anything and everything; from the cast and crew to script and practical effects and more. Some of the most entertaining is hearing director Eubanks discuss his influences - including video games like Starcraft, anime like Dragon Ball Z, famous directors like Tony Scott and more. Engaging and fun, this is one commentary I recommend. Other special features include deleted and extended scenes as well as a number of alternate scenes (cut due to flow, time, etc); a number of film outtakes; and the short featurette, "Behind The Signal," which explores the film's production. Cast and crew participate as fans get a look behind-the-scenes.
The Signal is one of my favorite films this year. While some might find the film at times confusing or even a bit obtuse, the emotion that's strung throughout along with the brilliant acting, impressive effects and exciting story that ends in what has to be one of the coolest endings since The Sixth Sense and The Usual Suspects, The Signal is that edge of your seat alien film that delivers a slow burn, intense and deep, profound and meaningful. I can't recommend The Signal enough; you're doing yourself a major disservice if you miss this one.
Be sure to check out The Signal trailer below and pick up your copy of this awesome film on Blu-ray hi-def, DVD and Digital Video wherever fine home video is sold.
- Jess C. Horsley
