Ladies and gents, it looks like the end of the world is back and better than ever. The apocalypse is currently in vogue, what with everything from I Am Legend to 28 Weeks Later taking residence in a multiplex near you. But rather than adopt the grim tone these particular movies shared, The Signal stakes out fresh territory in which to present its own unique take on Armageddon. While a good portion of the film is appropriately dark and very scary, there's an undercurrent of demented humor flowing throughout, depicting the end of days in a way we haven't quite seen before.

A wave of madness is slowly taking over the city of Terminus. A mysterious signal has started broadcasting over all TV sets, radios, and cell phones, effectively cutting off all forms of communication. In  addition, those with prolonged exposure to the signal begin to violently lash out, slashing up their fellow man without the slightest hestiation. Among the few sane survivors are Ben (Justin Welborn) and his married lover, Mya (Anessa Ramsey). Mya returns home from their latest encounter, only to find that her already unstable husband (AJ Bowen) has been driven even more mad by the signal, and she barely manages to escape into the city with her life intact. As more fall victim to the signal's homicidal side effects, Ben decides enough is enough and ventures into the heart of Terminus to find Mya, hoping to flee the city before her enraged hubby does them both in.

Right off the bat, what will strike viewers in The Signal involves its structure. The flick is separated into three acts, each one helmed by a different director and adopting its own style and perspective on the story, but the results are nowhere near as disjointed as you might expect. The first and third vignettes take more of a straightforward approach to the plot, showcasing the chaos that accompanies the signal's arrival and quickly envelopes the entire city. The middle section is the strangest of all, however, for not only does it crank the gallows humor up to 11 (with more honest laughs than your standard Hollywood comedy), it shows how things work from the point of view of Mya's insane husband. It's not often you get to see the world through the eyes of someone contributing to its collapse, but such scenes here are fascinating, showing how someone in this position reasons instead of giving viewers an individual depicted simply as a villain very close to frothing at the mouth. The Signal likes to think it's just showing audiences a good time by spilling some blood and scaring the pants off of viewers, but there's a much more intelligent force at work here than the filmmakers are letting on.

Of course, tossing all underlying themes and social commentary aside, The Signal is still a complete blast to watch. The story moves at a snappy pace, with all three sections of the film contributing an ever-increasing sense of insanity to the atmosphere. The film overcomes its minor budget (a scant $5 million) and manages to truly capture an apocalyptic scenario. Only three locations are utilized here, but the movie never feels like it's strapped for cash and whips up a feeling of intensity wherever it goes. Simply put, this is one scary movie, made even more suspenseful because it's hard to separate who's been driven mad by the signal and who's merely trying to survive. I've already touched on Bowen's character (who, in one of the film's minor flaws, all-too-conveniently pops up wherever other characters end up), but solid work is also done by Welborn and Ramsey, whose sympathetic characters get to shine in their own segments and deal with the signal's aftermath in their own ways.

Low-budget horror movies may have a reputation for knocking out cheap, shoddily-made gorefests without an ounce of class to their names, but once in a great while, something like The Signal ekes its way through the dreck. Its blend of bloodshed, laughs, and social commentary may not be everyone's cup of tea, but unlike so many movies that try such a tricky combination and fail miserably, The Signal comes through loud and clear.

MY RATING: *** 1/2 (out of ****)

(Released by Magnolia Pictures and rated "R" for strong brutal bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and brief nudity.)