The Signal

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The Signal

R

2008

1h 41m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

59%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Mya (Anessa Ramsey) and Ben (Justin Welborn) are very much in love, but she cannot quite find the courage to leave her awful husband, Lewis (A.J. Bowen). However, when a mysterious transmission starts turning people, including Lewis, into murderous maniacs, the lovers must go on the run.

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Critics Consensus

The Signal is gruesome, funny, and has big thoughts about society, but those disparate elements fail to come together convincingly.

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David Edelstein

New York Magazine/Vulture

The schlock-horror signal in which they've been bathed makes them believe that their grindhouse misogyny is the human condition.

Oct 17, 2018

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

[A] cagey low-budget horror flick.

Dec 17, 2008

Full Review

Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

It's all screwball fun until someone gets bugsprayed down the throat.

Rated: C

Feb 29, 2008

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Like many fragmented horror stories, the experience isn't consistent from start to finish, but it succeeds more than it falls short in this ambitious infection experience.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The Signal is one of the most creative, visceral horror anthology movies in recent years—an exhausting experience where little makes logical sense. It's a disturbing procession of distorted judgment and its ensuing bloodbath.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 6, 2023

Full Review

Dave White

Movies.com

Rated: 4.5/5

Apr 4, 2011

Full Review

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Rich N

Fun, gruesome and actually funny at times. Who’s on a murderous rage or who’s normal or not affected? Everyone seems to be crazy. I’d recommend this. It’s on par with 28 days later and much better than The Cell with Samual Jackson and John Cusak.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

Full Review

Emil P

Weird and illogical. Bad ending. But the plot was interesting.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/24/25

Full Review

Diana S

Unintentionally reflective of the trajectory of social media, which was in its infancy in 2007. I was actually a little amazed at how prescient this movie is with regard to the past ten years. I hated the ending, but that was the only real disappointment I felt.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/17/23

Full Review

Kyle M

Lies prophetic algorithm underneath the triggered terror in attempt to devise societal commentary transitionally modernized the genre's certain elements targeting the well-expressed inner self, but not enough frightening boost to heighten its decently average value. (B)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/07/24

Full Review

Gabriel G

This flick was directed by three filmmakers. It was amazing what they accomplished with just $50K. The acting, the make up, the production values are all great. The story was very good except for the middle portion. It didn't quite have the same urgency as the beginning and end. Regardless, very well made.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The segmented, dream-like style this is broken into may be off-putting to some, especially with its lower budget, but it's a unique and cool way to portray this descent into the Apocalypse. I used to not care for the comedic segment in the middle, but it may be my favorite part now.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/21

Full Review

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David Bruckner

Director

Jacob Gentry

Director

Dan Bush

Director

AJ Bowen

Lewis

Anessa Ramsey

Mya

Justin Welborn

Ben

The Signal: Official Clip - The Party's Been Canceled

2:27

The Signal: Official Clip - Lewis Meets Ben

2:09

The Signal: Official Clip - Act Natural

1:31

The Signal: Official Clip - Where Have You Been?

2:48

The Signal: Official Clip - Murder the World

2:47

The Signal: Official Clip - I Was Shot

2:51

The Signal: Official Clip - Desperate Measures

2:56

The Signal: Official Clip - I'm You

3:02

The Signal: Official Clip - Put the Bat Down

2:36

The Signal: Official Clip - Surrounded by Crazy People

2:50

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Synopsis

Mya (Anessa Ramsey) and Ben (Justin Welborn) are very much in love, but she cannot quite find the courage to leave her awful husband, Lewis (A.J. Bowen). However, when a mysterious transmission starts turning people, including Lewis, into murderous maniacs, the lovers must go on the run.

Director: David Bruckner, Jacob Gentry, Dan Bush
Producer: Alexander Motlagh, Jacob Gentry
Screenwriter: David Bruckner, Jacob Gentry, Dan Bush
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: POP Films, Shoreline Entertainment
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Brief Nudity|Strong Brutal Bloody Violence)
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 22, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $249.9K
Runtime: 1h 41m

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