"The Signal [2014]" - Review: (By Travis S.)

What You're in For:

Three college students on a road trip are lured to an abandoned building in search of a hacker's signal. After encountering an unexplained force, they wake in a strange facility, and begin to realize that they're not quite themselves anymore.

Who's Involved:

"The Signal [2014]" is a production of Focus Features. Written by Carlyle Eubank, William Eubank, and David Frigerio, Directed by William Eubank, and Starring: Brenton Thwaites, Olivia Cooke, Beau Knapp, and Lawrence Fishburne.

My Take:

If there’s one thing I can confidently say about “The Signal’, it’s that it feels both familiar and foreign. The film opens with a slow and character-driven first act, which sets a very numbing tone. As the drama begins to thicken, we lower our guard; just then, things suddenly get interesting. As the story starts to take a turn for the strange, we are pulled deep into a world of mystery and intrigue. It’s a tough film to evaluate, and even harder to explain, as the films does well shrouded in secrecy. This is a very rudimentary, conspiracy-driven piece, and the powerful first half of the film keeps us guessing and clamoring for more. The moment I felt the film distance itself from the viewer, was when it began to take risks, which overwhelmed the story and damaged the pacing. This doesn't ruin the film, but does change the tone; and with it, our interest level. Once the film embraced its Science Fiction narrative, it seemed to borrow too much from tired ideas, occasionally filling in the gaps with sparks of creativity. The actors do very well with what they're given, and what little effects are used to sell the moment, do look great considering the budget. This is a harmless, decent spin into psychological obscurity: one that doesn't require much contemplation and isn't afraid to take chances or break boundaries.

Filmmaking Report-Card:

Directing: 6/10

Editing: 6/10

Cinematography: 7/10

Acting: 6/10

Screenplay: 6/10

Over-All Experience:
6 /10

The Final Say: "The Signal [2014]" is a brave little sci-fi film, taking risks and delivering an average experience. The feel of the film, and the delivery of it's ideas are wavering, but the overall result is fresh and welcome.

Overall Score: 6/10