The general synopsis for The Signal reads like a how-to on clichés from both the sci-fi and horror film genres. A group of students on a road trip take a detour only to find themselves emerged in something deep and dark, as Rustin Cohle would say. Then the sci-fi part kicks in: a man (Laurence Fishburne) in a hazmat suit asks one of the students if they’re from earth. Oh dear.

The SignalNic's road trip turns into something very different

But there’s something about the trailer for The Signal that has got us intrigued. It doesn’t really answer any questions, instead choosing to raise a fair few. But that’s what trailers are for, and now we want to learn the answer to those burning questions when the film is released on June 13 (limited).

Nic (Brenton Thwaites) and Jonah (Beau Knapp) are MIT freshmen with a penchant for hacking. They end up chasing a rival hacker’s clues located almost 180 miles away while driving cross-country through Nevada with Nic’s girlfriend, Hailey (Olivia Cooke). The confrontation with ‘Nomad’, though, leaves them unconscious. Upon awaking, Nic is asked if he is from earth. The gang are inexplicably involved in something huge.

Watch the trailer for The Signal here

As you can see from the trailer’s review quotes, the early reaction to this indie sci-fi flick has been positive. And before you comment saying ‘any film can pick out good quotes from a bad review’, don’t, because we’ve read some of the reviews and this seems like one of the more thoughtful movies to be released this year.

The Signal Laurence FishburneLaurence Fishburne in The Signal

Rising star Brenton Thwaites  is also the star of The Weinstein Company's adaptation of Lois Lowery's dystopic young adult novel, "The Giver," which is slated for release in August. In it, he plays the central role of Jonas – a young man given intense responsibilities that shatter the illusion of the ‘perfect world’ he has become accustomed to.

The Signal poster