The Signal Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A hacker gets hacked, then gets his legs upgraded by aliens while trying to save his girlfriend, only to discover the real hack was the friends we made along the way…IN SPACE!

🍿 The Signal: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Road Trip and Hacker Pursuit

Nic, Haley, and Jonah, three MIT students, are on a road trip to California. Nic and Haley’s relationship is strained due to Nic’s muscular dystrophy. During a hotel stay, they discover that a hacker named NOMAD, who nearly got Nic and Jonah expelled, has found their location. NOMAD taunts them with strange emails and hacks their laptop, leading Nic and Jonah to track the hacker to an abandoned house in Nevada.

Abduction and Underground Facility

At the abandoned house, Nic and Jonah investigate, but they black out while Haley is pulled into the air. Nic awakens in a sterile underground research facility, questioned by Dr. Wallace Damon. Damon claims they encountered an extra-terrestrial biological entity (EBE) and shows footage with an alien face. Everyone in the facility wears Hazmat suits, supposedly due to alien contamination threats. Nic learns he can’t move his legs and hears Jonah saying he feels weird.

Alien Enhancements and Escape

After an experiment involving a cow, Jonah disappears. Nic discovers his legs have been replaced by prosthetic limbs made from alien technology. Using these enhanced limbs, Nic breaks himself and Haley out of the facility, only to find themselves in a desolate desert area. They hijack an 18-wheeler and encounter Jonah, who reveals his forearms and hands have also been replaced with alien technology. Jonah believes they are in Area 51 and that this is all a test.

The Chase and Revelation

After discovering alien technology in Haley’s spine, the trio attempts to escape. At a military checkpoint, Jonah tries to hack into the system but is stopped. He sacrifices himself to allow Nic and Haley to escape. As they approach a bridge, Damon confronts them, revealing himself as NOMAD (Damon spelled backwards). Damon explains that Nic is “the perfect integration of human will and alien technology.”

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Nic (Brenton Thwaites): A MIT student with muscular dystrophy who becomes the subject of alien experimentation, gaining enhanced abilities.
• Haley (Olivia Cooke): Nic’s girlfriend whose health and well-being become Nic’s primary motivation throughout their ordeal.
• Damon (Laurence Fishburne): The enigmatic leader of the research facility, who is revealed to be an alien orchestrating experiments on humans.
• Jonah (Beau Knapp): Nic’s best friend and fellow hacker who aids in tracking NOMAD and faces the consequences of their discovery.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Damon: “You’re the perfect integration of human will and alien technology. Our finest achievement.” – Damon reveals the true nature of Nic’s transformation, highlighting the blend of human and alien elements.
• Damon: “You can’t reach her.” – Said by Damon to Nic as Haley is being evacuated by helicopter, taunting him about his limitations.
• Nic: “The truth of the matter? What is the truth of the matter here?” – Nic’s defiant outburst in the research facility, questioning the situation and authority.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $4,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $600,896
• Worldwide Gross: $2,595,622

💥 The Signal Reviews

Personal Review

I went into this movie knowing absolutely nothing, and wow, what a ride! From the creepy abandoned house to the sterile research facility, I was hooked. The scene where Nic discovers his new legs was both horrifying and strangely empowering. And that ending? My jaw dropped! I immediately wanted to watch it again to catch all the clues I missed. Definitely a movie that sticks with you.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of science fiction thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in stories about alien encounters”
  • “People who enjoy mind-bending plots and twists”
  • “Audiences who appreciate low-budget films with creative storytelling”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Sci-Fi Violence”
  • “Thematic elements including abduction and experimentation”
  • “Some disturbing imagery”

Professional Reviews

• IndieWire: “Eubank masterfully builds suspense, leading to a genuinely shocking reveal. ‘The Signal’ transcends its low budget with stunning visuals and a captivating mystery that will leave audiences pondering long after the credits roll.
• Variety: “Will Eubank delivers a stylish and intriguing sci-fi thriller that benefits from strong performances, particularly from Laurence Fishburne. The film explores themes of control and paranoia, creating a disorienting and thought-provoking experience.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Although ‘The Signal’ occasionally falters in its narrative cohesion, it succeeds as a visually striking and atmospheric journey into the unknown. Brenton Thwaites shines as the protagonist, grappling with his newfound abilities and the unsettling truth behind his reality.

Audience Reactions

The twist ending completely redefined the whole movie!: Original sci-fi concept and unpredictable plot twists.

Laurence Fishburne’s performance made the movie more engaging.: Great acting, especially Fishburne’s mysterious portrayal of Damon.

Overall Consensus: A mind-bending sci-fi thriller with a polarizing ending. It’s praised for its originality, visuals, and performances, but criticized for its slow pace and ambiguous plot elements.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Director Will Eubank has cited influences from films like ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ and ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind,’ aiming for a blend of science fiction with a focus on character and mystery.”
• “The film’s ending was intentionally ambiguous to spark discussion and interpretation among viewers, leaving room for multiple theories about the true nature of the events.”
• “The production team used practical effects combined with CGI to create the visual effects, aiming for a grounded and believable feel despite the fantastical elements.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Signal?

Currently, “The Signal” is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for potential streaming availability on services like Hulu or Netflix. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray can also be purchased from major retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy, allowing viewers to own a copy of the film.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Signal, you might like these similar films:

• Dark City (1998): Both films explore themes of reality manipulation and characters discovering the artificial nature of their environment.
• Primer (2004): Shares a focus on complex, mind-bending science fiction concepts with a low-budget indie aesthetic.
• Moon (2009): Features a character isolated in an artificial environment, questioning their reality and purpose, with a strong emphasis on character development.
• Arrival (2016): Explores themes of alien contact and altered perception of reality, focusing on the human experience of encountering the unknown.

🛒 The Signal Related Products

• The Signal Movie Poster: A high-quality print of the original movie poster, perfect for fans who want to showcase their love for this mind-bending sci-fi thriller. Captures the essence of the film’s mystery and suspense.
• Alienware Gaming Laptop: Inspired by the advanced tech in ‘The Signal’. A top-tier gaming laptop with cutting-edge graphics and processing power. Explore virtual realities and hack like a pro with this machine designed for ultimate performance.
• Cyberpunk 2077: Immerse yourself in a dystopian future with bionic enhancements and corporate conspiracies. Explore a world of cybernetics, hacking, and moral ambiguity.
• iRobot Roomba s9+: The smartest, most powerful robot vacuum. The only robot vacuum that empties on its own for up to 60 days! Featuring PerfectEdge Technology with advanced sensors, and a specially designed Corner Brush, iRobot is the perfect robot vacuum to keep up on all your day to day cleaning.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Signal features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “La villa dei delitti” – performed by Gabriele Bazzi Berneri
• “Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” – performed by Nima Fakhrara

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

In “Area 51”, Body Parts Replaced With Alien Tech

Okay, if you were slightly confused during the movie (like I was), this recap is a lifesaver! It breaks down the entire plot, including all the crazy alien tech stuff, in just 10 minutes. Seriously, it’s worth a watch to make sure you didn’t miss anything important!

Everything GREAT About Hanna!

If you loved the movie, this CinemaWins video is a must-watch! It points out all the amazing things that make Hanna great, from the music to the action sequences. It might even make you appreciate the film even more.

✨ Rate