Review: Midnight Special

Michael Shannon enlists childhood friend Joel Edgerton in kidnapping Shannon’s 8 year-old son Jaeden Lieberher from a Texan cult compound run by Sam Shepard. When the FBI turn up at the compound to ask Shepard some questions, it becomes apparent that this is no ordinary boy. The cult are of the belief that the boy is somewhat of a prophet who spouts random utterances that the cult have taken to forming a special meaning behind. Also helping out the Feds is NSA analyst Adam Driver, who thinks that the boy is in possession of classified government information. Kirsten Dunst turns up as a woman with a personal connection to Shannon and the boy, David Jensen is a former cult member, and Bill Camp (in an interesting casting choice) plays Shepard’s chief fixer/goon.

All throughout this 2016 genre flick from Jeff Nichols I had a slight feeling of if not déjà vu, then certainly a level of comfortable familiarity. Have you ever heard John Carpenter talk about the reception his remake of “The Thing” got on original release? Basically he thinks the critical backlash was partly due to everyone loving the cutesy weepie classic “E.T” and then they sat down to watch his film and were repelled by it. Well, imagine what “E.T” would look like if it was directed by Carpenter, and you might have something relatively similar to what Nichols offers up here. That and Jack Sholder’s “The Hidden” and a little of Randal Kleiser’s underrated family flick “Flight of the Navigator” were what I had most in my mind watching this interesting and enjoyable film. I’m not in any way suggesting this film is a rip-off or unoriginal, just that when you watch it you can’t help but get an 80s sci-fi vibe from it. It’s all through the film’s veins. It’s not as memorable as Nichols’ “Take Shelter”, but it’s certainly a lot more enjoyable than the overrated “Mud”.

The excellent low-level lighting by Adam Stone (“Take Shelter”, “Mud”) and moody, throbbing synth score by David Wingo (“Take Shelter”, “Mud”, “Maggie”) definitely have a 70s or 80s John Carpenter feel to them, and I also liked that it gets off and running pretty quickly. It’s also pretty freaking barmy at times, though I do wish it weren’t so elusive on the details at times. I’m still not entirely sure what Sam Shepard’s cult leader character was all about in relation to the child. It’s a little vague, and there’s also a moment or two of incredulity (even for a film on this subject) as well. What the film does have is a strange beauty to it that I can’t say I’ve come across before. It’s certainly a very different film to anything else you’ll see these days. Michael Shannon is terrific as usual playing a man who may not entirely understand his son but will absolutely protect him at all costs nonetheless. Aussie expat Joel Edgerton gives one of his best performances too as the loyal childhood friend and outsider.

Unlike anything you’ve seen lately, this one’s got a whole 80s sci-fi vibe to it, and it’s pretty memorable and interesting. In fact, it’s also a little moving and beautiful actually (Nichols was apparently inspired by his experiences looking after his sick child). Some more definition to the characters played by Sam Shepard and young Jaeden Lieberher would’ve made this one truly soar. Man does it come close at times, though. It’s Joe Dante-esque (to complete the Holy Trinity of 80s director references after Spielberg and Carpenter) in that frustrating regard. A good film that could’ve been an excellent one, but you’ll not soon forget it at any rate. Give it a look.

Rating: B-