The Messengers is a standard creepy ghost story featuring an old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, a troubled family, crows that attack people for no apparent reason, ashy looking people with stringy hair crawling around slowly, and lots of sharp farm equipment just waiting to be used as a weapon.

The movie’s title would lead you to believe that there is a message here somewhere. However, if you watch the movie, you’ll see that there is not even a well developed story, let alone a message.

After a prologue featuring a family becoming victim of an unseen force, we meet another family on their way from Chicago to North Dakota where they plan on starting a new life (read: sunflower farm) far from what haunted them before. Strange things start happening in the farmhouse that only the children can see, and crows start ominously invading their personal space. Remind you of anything? (Sixth Sense, The Birds)

Haven’t the parents heard of a scarecrow?

Rather than exploring the true meaning of these apparitions and solving the crow mystery, the Pang brothers direct your attention to meaningless “BOO!” moments.

In the end, The Messengers is a small and spooky offering from the Pang brothers, introducing themselves to American viewers who may not have seen The Eye or Infernal Affairs, which recently served as the basis for Martin Scorsese’s The Departed.

It’s a sign, no doubt, of better films to come.