Midnight Special

In this age of comic book films and Young Adult adaptations it often seems increasingly rare to see science fiction cinema, without the IP being grounded in another medium. Midnight Special is an original work, and celebrates this originality in an offbeat manner.

Alton Meyer (Jaeden Liehbar) is a very special kid. Born with extraordinary powers, he has lived most of his life in a strange cult, till Roy (Michael Shannon) steals him away. With Alton's destructive potential kept in check by a pair of swimming googles they move only at night, fleeing from both a religious cult and the government. In this manner they make their way across the country to a mysterious rendezvous that the voices have told Alton of, all in the hope of unlocking the boy's true potential.

A locked box mystery thriving on atmosphere to enrich the tale, director Jeff Nicols has managed to create an intriguing tale that gently reveals itself. At times it may play a bit too coy with that information, but the strength of the performances and the beauty of the visuals are all adequate compensation for this.

Comparisons to Spielberg's early work are inevitable. A strange sci-fi involving an 'alien' figure being chased by government agencies seems familiar, yet tonally this is a remarkably different piece. Spielberg's works are bathed in optimism and Americana, but Midnight Special is built on far more cynical foundations. Its America is a well of the regret, cynicism, mistrust, conspiracy, dogma and the deeply weird. Its '80s overtones are far more John Carpenter, than Steven Spielberg. Almost like an alternative remake of Starman which was not an apology for traumatising audiences with The Thing, but rather its own glorious deeply strange artefact.

However Midnight Special is not a bleak film, merely less saccharine. There is hope to be had here, clawed out from amongst the background of cheap motels, and all-night petrol stations. Like Nicols' other works it comes down to a matter of faith.  Shannon's stoic determination drives this adventure. He is a man tested, and strives to do what is right. It is an underplayed performance setting the tone for the rest of the cast (especially Edgerton). Only Adam Driver didn't get this memo, and instead channels his best Richard Dreyfuss (perfectly acceptable given his role).

Strange, melancholic and deeply atmospheric Midnight Special is an odd gem of a genre film. 

Originally published in X-Press Magazine