Signs

The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Graham Hess, a former reverend, wakes to his children's cries about crop circles in their cornfield. He lives on a Pennsylvania farm with his two children and brother Merrill, having lost his faith after his wife's death six months earlier.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.

The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when The family discovers something in the cornfield at night. They hear strange clicking sounds and glimpse a dark figure on the barn roof. The threat becomes tangible and personal—something alien is on their property.. At 10% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.

The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 21% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Graham makes the active decision to board up the house and keep the family together inside rather than flee. He commits to facing the invasion from their home, crossing into the "siege" narrative of Act Two., moving from reaction to action.

At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 42% of the runtime—significantly early, compressing the first half. Notably, this crucial beat The family watches the Brazilian birthday party footage on TV showing a clear alien figure, confirming the invasion is real and hostile. The stakes raise dramatically—false defeat as Graham realizes there's no denying the supernatural threat. The "game" becomes deadly serious., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.

The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (63% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Morgan suffers a severe asthma attack in the basement and cannot breathe. Graham holds his dying son, helpless, as the boy turns blue and stops breathing. The "whiff of death" is literal—Graham's son appears to die in his arms while aliens hunt them above., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.

The Synthesis at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 67% of the runtime. An alien remains in the house and grabs Morgan. Graham suddenly sees all the "signs": Bo's contaminated water glasses everywhere, Morgan's asthma closing his lungs to poison, Colleen's dying words. He commands Merrill to "swing away" with the baseball bat. Merrill strikes the alien, knocking it into the water glasses. Water is toxic to the aliens. Morgan revives as his closed lungs saved him from poison gas. Every "random" element had cosmic purpose., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.