Review of Midnight Special (2016) by Diane H — 07 Jan 2017

Writer/director Jeff Nichols has done it again with MIDNIGHT SPECIAL - a one-of-a-kind film that not only pays homage to the great sci-fi films of the '80s (particularly Spielberg's CLOSE ENCOUNTERS) but also firmly establishes itself as an emotionally-earned and heartfelt father-son drama that is riveting, exciting, and most importantly, convincing. Nichols makes bold choices throughout the film (especially the ending), and it is because of this that his fourth feature lives up to the standards and marks another outstanding entry to his impressive resume of films that have always featured deeply-explored characters in unique but simple worlds.

Backstory is stripped away in this film and so is much of the dialogue to convey an authentic situation amidst what may easily be brushed away as just another "human-with-special-powers" story - for instance, the opening scene (which really is pulse-pounding yet simple) throws us immediately into the thick of things and sets the tone strongly for what is to come for both the drama and the sci-fi. It firmly introduces the lead characters and establishes a sense of urgency that will carry throughout the film, and as a result, the stakes are quickly established as high and ever present. The performances likewise are expertly directed to complement this sparser approach in which Shannon and Edgerton are rock solid (as expected, there is no fluff to their performances whatsoever) while the young Jaeden Lieberher impressively anchors the film (he never seems to be "acting" and his organic handling of the film's sci-fi elements makes it that much easier to believe). The pacing and the excellent score also prove to be huge factors in rounding out this experience that Nichols has created.

MIDNIGHT SPECIAL works because it transports you into its world, grips you, and snatches you off for a ride - as a chase film, it keeps you at the edge of your seat; as a drama, it keeps you invested in the characters and the importance of their decisions to support one another; and as a narrative, it keeps you immersed in ways that define why we go to the cinema in the first place. Although its ending may be a bit on the polarizing side, all in all, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL is the one of the first great films of 2016.