Midnight Special

 Midnight Special 2016

• Director: Jeff Nichols
• Seen by this director: Take Shelter
• Based on the book: No
• Cast: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Jaeden Martell, Sam Shepard
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Michael Shannon – Knives Out, The Shape of Water, Man of Steel, Take Shelter, 8 Mile
• Joel Edgerton – The Gift, The Great Gatsby, Zero Dark Thirty, Kinky Boots, Star Wars III, Ned Kelly
• Kirsten Dunst – Melancholia, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Mona Lisa’s Smile, Levity, Virgin Suicides, Little Women
• Adam Driver – BlacKkKlansman, Star Wars the Last Jedi + The Force Awakens, What If, Tracks, Inside Llewyn Davis
• Jaeden Martell - Knives Out
• Sam Shepard – August Osage County, Hamlet, Snow Falling on Cedars, The Pelican Brief, Steel Magnolias, Frances
• Why? It sounded interesting
• Seen: 22 May 2022      

       Eight-year-old Alton (Martell), who has special powers, is being hidden and protected by his father Roy (Shannon) and mother Sarah (Dunst). The boy is being hunted by the religious cult the Ranch, who has exploited him his whole life.  The FBI and NSA are also involved because it seems that Alton can hack into satellites and security systems with his X-ray eyes (or something like that). Paul (Driver) is a curious, kind and helpful agent.

       It’s an intriguing premise executed in a low-key high-suspense way, an intelligent and unusual sci fi film, with a strong human-interest factor. 

4* of 5.