The Signal is Captivating on a Several Levels...
In The Signal the gore is over- the- top, the zeal in which the infected slice and mutilate their victims is inspiring and the comedy works.
Written by The Horror Czar
June 9, 2008
Release: February 22, 2008 (Limited, U.S.)
Written and Directed by: David Bruckner, Jacob Gentry and Dan Bush
Starring:
Anessa Ramsey as Mya Denton
Sahr Nguajah as Rod
AJ Bowen as Lewis Denton
Matt Stanton as Jerry
Suehyla El-Attar as Janice
Justin Welborn as Ben Capstone
Cheri Christian as Anna
The concept of an errant signal transmitted across the airwaves of modern technology causing mayhem is not an especially new one. Heck, even Halloween 3 had that television signal that made the kids go ballistic on their parents…
The cool thing about The Signal is not necessarily the fact that there was a signal transmitted via radio, television, telephone and cell that causes people to go on random murderous rampages, but the way that it is all handled.
Mya (Anessa Ramsey) is having an adulterous affair with Ben (Justin Welborn) and at the conclusion of one of their secret tryst she realizes that it is getting late – she is going to have to explain to her husband Lewis (AJ Bowen) why she was out so late without calling. She races to her car toward her unhappy home only to find bloody dudes accosting her in the parking lot looking for help. Completely creeped out, Mya races to her apartment where it seems that things are going strange there too. People are arguing in the halls, faint screams can be heard in the distance – what kind of place does she live in anyway?
Once home she is confronted by her husband who has two friends in tow trying to watch the “big game”. But… the T.V. isn’t showing ESPN but instead some crazy psychedelic patterns along with an electronic sound with a tone similar to that of a fax machine on a phone line. After the “where have you been” third degree Lewis rejoins his friends – and becomes entranced by the swirling images on the tube. Then, after a brief aggressive argument with his buddy, Lewis proceeds to completely and violently bash the (now ex) buddies head in with a baseball bat. Mya decides it’s time to vacate the premises.
The world that Mya sees outside her apartment now is utter chaos – murder and mayhem are around every corner. Everyone that has watched television, listened to the radio or used the telephone has gone through a psychotic change to become a Jason-esque slasher. Mya must now survive long enough to become re-united with her clandescent lover and take the train from platform 13 to a better life.
The Signal is captivating on a couple of levels. First, the gore and the zeal in which “infected” slice, bludgeon and decapitate their victims are quite over- the- top… I love that. No lack of passionate murder and Technicolor gore here. The Signal also doesn’t take itself so seriously that there is no room for comedy and humor. Some of the scenes in this one are downright slapstick, lulling you into a sense that we’ve got a comedy in store… until the crazy bug guy sprays insecticide into Anna’s (Cheri Christian) mouth and she hacks up her guts.
The bottom line on The Signal is this is a well acted, original, gory, crazy and satisfying horror flick. I was on the edge of my seat throughout and the segments of campy comedy were just out of place enough to be extremely cool and surprising – only to edge back to the murderous mayhem at just the right time. The fact that there were three directors, each directing their own segments added variety to each element that was original and refreshing. Some say there is inconsistency in style because of the tri-director method... I say it worked tremendously well.
I was apprehensive about this one at the beginning for whatever reason, but that was completely unfounded. The Signal is a keeper. Questions or comments about The Signal? Discuss it on The Ossuary Forums!
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