Midnight Special

Release Date: March 18th, 2016
Running Time: 112 minutes
Written & Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Starring: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Jaeden Lieberher, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Sam Shepard

Midnight Special is a science fiction/fantasy film in the vein of such genre classics from the 1970s and '80s as E.T., Firestarter, Starman, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. But while successful in capturing the tone and style of those films, it falls short of telling a truly compelling story.

The movie opens in the middle of the storyline, with Roy Tomlin (Michael Shannon) hiding out with his 8-year-old son Alton (Jaeden Lieberher) in a motel room. Accompanying them is Roy's longtime buddy Lucas (Joel Edgerton). They watch a news report claiming that Alton is missing, suspected of being kidnapped by Roy, who is considered armed and dangerous. The boy seems, at first, to be a nice, normal kid—except for the fact that he wears dark-tinted goggles while awake, and soundproofing headphones while he sleeps. Later it's revealed that he can't be exposed to daylight. 

The background story is provided by way of an FBI investigation into a religious cult based on a rural Texas ranch headed by preacher Calvin Meyer (Sam Shepard). Alton and Roy lived there before escaping three days prior, although Calvin had adopted Alton (and numerous other children). It's not clear if Calvin had multiple wives, but it's implied, and all the women in the cult wear full body-covering, old-fashioned dresses like we've seen in polygamous communities. Alton's mother Sarah (Kirsten Dunst) was excommunicated from the cult a couple years earlier, but we're not told why. It's also never explained why Calvin adopted Alton, and what Roy's role to the boy was after the adoption. In any case, the cult members are aware of Alton's powers and view him through a religious lens, as an operator for either God or the Devil, or both. Much of the movie involves Alton, Roy, and Lucas driving towards an undisclosed location where Alton has said he must be at a specific date and time, where something supposedly big, possibly cataclysmic, is assumed to happen. With the FBI, NSA, military, and cult henchmen in pursuit, the team jump from motel to motel, changing vehicles along the way. Midway through the film they reconnect with Sarah who joins them on their mission.

Questions abound, with few satisfying answers ever coming. Why was Sarah excommunicated? How long has Alton been exhibiting his powers? From birth, or only recently? If from birth, then how was the cult able to keep it secret for so long, given the immense superhuman abilities that the boy displays? And if he only recently started showing these abilities, as it seems, then why now? The exact nature and extent of his powers is never made fully clear, but it seems he can "hear" radio signals and satellite transmissions, see the future, and shoot blue light beams out of his eyes. And, oh yeah, he can also telekinetically cause large objects to fall from the sky, shake the earth, and destroy houses. In other words, anything goes.

All the hallmarks of a family-friendly fantasy adventure are present; a boy with otherworldly superpowers who's on the run, with his parents, from military and police authorities seeking to capture the child for study and possible use as a weapon. While the agents in pursuit are generally cold-hearted, one (Adam Driver) is sympathetic to the boy and his family, and, of course, ends up helping them. There are numerous sentimental scenes between the boy and his father, the boy and his mother, and the mother and father. There are also a few special effects-laden scenes showcasing the boy's unexplainable abilities, as the team travels through several southern states towards a secret destination where a supposedly world-changing event may occur. These story elements, while cliché and typical of the genre, might nonetheless work in such a film if they were anchored by some interesting, original ideas. But as is, the movie lacks soundness in details and feels like it's striving for a profound emotional impact that it doesn't quite achieve. 

While Midnight Special obviously borrows its title from the classic song, I'm not sure what it means in this context. I guess it's referring to Alton being awake at night and sleeping during the day since he's somehow sensitive to sunlight. But this is another detail that lacks stability, as halfway through the film he's inexplicably rejuvenated by watching the sunrise and from then on can be out in daylight with no issue. The title also might be a reference to late night movie showings, as the film is clearly an homage to light sci-fi genre pics of the past, as writer-director Jeff Nichols has stated. This is the third Nichols' film to star Michael Shannon, the best of which is the intriguing apocalyptic thriller Take Shelter (2011). While I appreciate Nichols attempting to expand his repertoire with a movie like this, and he's successful in capturing the feel of the aforementioned '80s flicks, I wish he'd taken more time to develop the script because as is it feels rushed, with too many plot holes and an unsatisfying climax.

Watching the previews for the film gave me a warm, nostalgic feeling, and reminded me of going to the theater as a child. It even made me get out the Twizzlers, Glossette Raisins, and soda pop. But after seeing the disappointing result, all I was really left with was a bit of stomach discomfort and a desire to watch E.T. again.
Rating (out of 5): ★★½
• Nik Dobrinsky / Boy Drinks Ink
June 23rd, 2016