Midnight Special

Midnight Special

This film is a modest sci-fi movie with a small cast of actors. The story is about a boy with mysterious powers who is abducted   by his father and driven to a secret location.  Bits of the boy’s powers are revealed during the journey and with every new revelation suspense grows. The trip to the final destination is littered with peril because the federal government wants to integrate him and members from an apocalyptic church, from which he escaped, are hunting him and believe he is a spiritual compass.

Michael Shannon is the father. This is a different role for Shannon. Blessed with a face of a stone cold killer he usually plays bad guy. He was General Zod in Man of Steel and played a vicious hit man in the Iceman who actually froze his victims. Here he plays a loving father willing to risk his life for his son. His affection was genuine.

Joel Edgerton joins Shannon on the journey. Edgerton is usually in leading roles so this supporting turn is a bit unusual. The role is not demanding. Kristin Dunst plays the mother. She comes in half way through the movie. She gives her usual sleepy laid back performance.

The boy is played by Jaeden Leiberher (Oliver in St. Vincent). He is very good in this role keeping a level of composure during the high risk journey. For the most part he controls of his powers but things do get out of hand on the road.

Adam Driver is not a big box office draw yet but he gives yeoman’s work in this film. From his appearance in Girls to Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens his resume is growing impressively. Here he is an NAS agent trying to decipher information from the boy.

Computer Graphics do not play a big role in the film which is unusual for a sci-fi movie, except for the end which is fantastic. This movie has a definite feel of Close Encounter of the Third Kind . The ending is spectacular and tender. A good movie for the whole family.