Midnight Special

Dir: Jeff Nichols

2016

****

I remember sitting down to watch J.J. Abram's 2011's Spielberg-esque tribute Super 8 and thinking I liked it but wished that another, more imaginative and more creative director had made it. J.J. Abram is creative but you can attach everything he's ever worked on to a higher (and obvious) influence. People were largely disappointed with Neill Blomkamp's 2015 film CHAPPiE but it was the sort of thing I'd wanted for a long time. I believe the majority of people were disappointed because they expected something else, fair enough as I'm not sure it was sold correctly but I thought it was a great example of a director taking a classic sci-fi idea and putting it into a more contemporary and therefore more believable setting but without skimping on the fantasy elements of the story. So whenever I see a tired old sci-fi but with a good story, I can't help but want another director to have made it. Imagine if Vincenzo Natali had directed Click, what if Lars von Trier had directed Jurassic World and don't tell me you wouldn't want to see Werner Herzog's version of Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice because I just won't believe you. Midnight Special is reminiscent of the films J.J. Abram was getting all nostalgic about back in 2011, it's a little bit E.T. the Extra Terrestrial and it's a little bit Close Encounters of the Third Kind with a hint of the Midwich Cuckoos thrown in for good measure. It's also nothing like those films. It could have been a huge blockbuster with far more action, bigger named stars and a talking dog but everyone would have been disappointed with the results. Nichols has done the sensible thing and has created an intelligent fantasy based on classic sci-fi. It feels real, the actions of everyone featured are as they probably would be if the story were ever to happen and everything that happens to our main character probably would happen to him in real life. No one here escapes from a top secret government base in a teenage cleaning ladies trolley (Flight of the Navigator before you ask). Our main character, young Alton (Jaeden Lieberher) has unexplained powers, he knows things and effects everyone around him. When he repeats information in several different languages people listen to him. A religious cult claim him as their own, not an unbelievable idea, his father (Michael Shannon), once a member of the cult, realizes he is meant for other purposes and with the help from an old friend (Joel Edgerton) they take the boy to his estranged mother (Kirsten Dunst) and onto to a location Alton believes will give them all the answers. They are pursued by the FBI and Agent Sevier (Adam Driver) who believe the child is in danger from unstable parents. There are no clichéd evil Agents out to get them, rather a clever mix of paranoia and selfishness from both the government officials and religious leaders. It's a thrilling sci-fi in its own right but also an interesting look at society. There is a much bigger picture but most people still only see themselves. This is what Nichols does best. To attach genuine humanity into over the top sci-fi is very clever and sadly seldom seen. The typical sci-fi blockbuster is an action packed, fun but nonsensical mix of explosions, car chases and running around a lot with manipulative tear jerking moments. Sometimes you know there is a dog in the film just so it can be killed off to make you feel sad. There is no dog in Midnight Special, only intrigue and thought-provoking exploration of just about every emotion there is. This isn't a film about aliens, this is a film about humans. Beautifully directed with some stunning special effects and intense performances and highly enjoyable from start to finish.