THE SIGNAL

Mom always said that too much TV would rot your brain, and in this nightmare scenario, a deadly signal broadcast over the boob tube turns people into raving maniacs. All devices that receive transmission signals — e.g., TVs, radios, cell phones — suddenly start emitting a sonic blast that transforms ordinary individuals into raving, homicidal lunatics. In three separate stories, the lives of people affected by this horrifying predicament are explored.

Cast Anessa Ramsey, Sahr, AJ Bowen, Matt Stanton, Suehyla El-Attar, Justin Welborn
Director(s) David Bruckner, Jacob Gentry, Dan Bush
Writer(s) David Bruckner, Jacob Gentry, Dan Bush
Status In theaters (limited)
Genre(s) Horror
Release Date Feb. 22, 2008
Running Time 99 minutes
Web Site signalmovie.com

Who's in It: Anessa Ramsey, AJ Bowen, Justin Welborn, Scott Poythress

The Basics: A freak TV transmission turns everyone into zombie-like homicidal maniacs. Two young adulterous lovers try to survive the carnage and escape their suddenly chaotic town — called "Terminus" by the way — that's gone all bloodbath-insane. Indie all the way, it's harsh, jolting, funny and a strangely cool little calling card for its trio of writers/directors: David Bruckner, Jacob Gentry and Dan Bush.

What's the Deal? I know that the whole TV-turns-people-into-psychotic-zombies thing just made it sound like it could end up being a lame "message" horror movie, but it's really not. The only real skating-on-thin-ice element is that it does have a lot in common with the latest wave of hipster zombie comedy/end-of-the-world movies. But if it's true that horror reflects the anxiety of its era, then you should expect that ironic doom-themed gags mixed with decapitations are the way we live now. And it's nowhere near the last apocalypse-right-now one you'll be sold either. Be grateful, then, that this a good, fast, cheap gore-fest with way more brains than any of the Saw movies.

"The Last Girl" … That's what writer Carol J. Clover calls the standard-issue-horror-movie final-woman-standing in her really interesting book about feminism and gender in horror films called Men, Women and Chainsaws. And newcomer Anessa Ramsey gives what could have been a stock character more points of interest and real-life humanity than you're used to getting.

Great Double-Feature Companion Films: Given the number of spousal ax murderings going on here, it'd be most enjoyable with War of the Roses, Ingmar Bergman's Scenes From a Marriage and My Bloody Valentine.