Review of Midnight Special (2016) by Alfonso N — 23 Apr 2016

Midnight special (2016/ Sci Fi).

Jeff Nichols' midnight special is captivatingly suspenseful and leaves its audience somewhat mystified by the end of the film. Michael Shannon as Roy/ the boys father encapsulates all the characteristic you would expect from a father eternally trying to protect his son; Alton (Jaeden lieberher). His ruthlessness in his efforts are revealed right from the get go through his use of lethal force. Joel Edgerton (Lucas) acts as the pairs body guard, although not having seen Roy in over 4 years. You start to wonder why this boy is so special until his talents are revealed in a viscerally intense scene.

Jeff Nichols intentionally keeps Alton's importance a mystery, gradually revealing the extent of his power through out the film. This power however is perceived very differently by those surrounding Alton, between the federal government and the cultist group simply known as the ranch it is understandable why him and his father are on the run. Adam driver perfectly displays how bewildered anyone thrown into the thick of this manhunt would be; he acts somewhat as the audience's perspective into trying to understand this boy.

Midnight special puts a lense on society and how it reacts to power and the extent it will go to simply know. Yes the ending does leave us with many questions left unanswered however this isn't always such a bad thing, the journey to knowledge is far greater than the answer.the journey Jeff Nichols takes us on is truly entertaining and shows whats to come from a great writer/ director. The characters within this film were through and through flawlessly performed, the cinematography parallels the mystery of the plot and writing something to witness. This film is definitely worth a watch and the director worth keeping an eye out for his next venture.

-Tashinga nyatsanga.