The Signal

TV is the villain in exciting horror flick, but don't change the channel

By Matt Pais

Critic's Rating:

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A TV transmission causes people to go crazy and kill each other. That's pretty much it. The film is divided in three segments, each directed by a different filmmaker (David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry).

Big question: Is this star-free horror movie any more than just a feature-length "Twilight Zone" episode?

Catch it: Several notches better than "The Ring," "The Signal" is a paranoid look at how quickly society can break down into anarchy. Some dark comedy -- people are still concerned about attending a New Year's Eve party even as bodies pile up outside -- injects a few big laughs into an otherwise tense and scary vision.

Skip it: If you're as tied to the TV as the characters in the film and can't look away even when you know you shouldn't be watching. In other words, if you're a fan of "The Hills."

Bottom line: Even a creepy idea can become redundant, and eventually "The Signal" just feels like a revolving door of people going crazy, becoming sane, then going crazy again. But a mood of utter chaos rarely makes you feel like everyday citizens are this close to snapping.

Bonus: In the movie's emotional opening, Ben (Justin Welborn) gives Mya (Anessa Ramsey) a mix CD to ease her guilt for cheating on her husband. Who needs marital vows when you can have Al Green and Matchbox 20!

What do you think of 'The Signal'? Email me: mpais@tribune.com