Writing Done Right

I just got back from watching the movie Signs, and I have to make a few comments.

I won't review the movie per se, because it's worth seeing clean with no preconceived notions about what it's about or what's going to happen. I will say this. M. Knight Shyamalan has made some pretty good movies in Unbreakable and The Sixth Sense, but this one is even better.

Like his prior movies, this one shows that Shyamalan knows how to write (and isn't that part of what this site is all about?). This movie could be a clinic for aspiring writers (not just screenwriters, but anyone interested in fiction well-crafted). There isn't a single line of wasted dialogue in the entire film; everything matters.

Every plot development builds on what has gone before and contributes to the climax. A couple of the characters are clearly there for comic relief, but for the most part, everyone has a vital part to play. The story is an integrated whole, perfectly reflecting back on itself. When the ending comes, you know that it simply couldn't have happened any other way.

If you're a writer, or just want to be one, go see this movie.