Midnight Special

2016
PG
1h 52m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

85K

YOUR RATING

Jaeden Martell in Midnight Special (2016)

A father goes on the run to protect his young son, Alton, and uncover the truth behind the boy's special powers. What starts as a race from religious extremists and local law enforcement quickly escalates to a nationwide manhunt involving the highest levels of the Federal Government. Ultimately his father risks everything to protect Alton and help fulfill a destiny that could change the world forever, in this genre -- defying film as supernatural as it is intimately human.

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Drama Mystery Sci-Fi Thriller

A father and son go on the run, pursued by the government and a cult drawn to the child's special powers.A father and son go on the run, pursued by the government and a cult drawn to the child's special powers.A father and son go on the run, pursued by the government and a cult drawn to the child's special powers.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

85K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 14 nominations

Trivia
Because he wanted final cut, Jeff Nichols originally considered making the film with an independent film studio, rather than at Warner Bros Pictures. It wasn't until his last meeting with Warner Bros that he informed them of this requirement. However, the producers at the company still agreed to make the film, due to its relatively small budget.

Goofs
Near the end of the movie, after Roy breaks through the road blockade, the air bags are engaged. However, seconds later the vehicle is able to drive away without any sign of them. Air bags are designed to instantly inflate to cushion the people in the car against impact, but then to deflate straight away. Although there are many shots in which you cannot see the air bags, when the car flips over, it can be seen in its deflated state.

Quotes
Alton Meyer: Dad?
Roy: Yeah?
Alton Meyer: Are you scared?
Roy: Yes.
Alton Meyer: You don't have to worry about me.
Roy: I like worrying about you.
Alton Meyer: You don't have to anymore.
Roy: I'll always worry about you Alton. That's the deal.

Connections
Featured in The Graham Norton Show: Chris Hemsworth/Jessica Chastain/Kirsten Dunst/Stephen Mangan/Raleigh Ritchie (2016)

Soundtracks
Sunrise Mass
Written by Ola Gjeilo
Performed by Majorstua Chamber Choir / Kammerkoret Nova with String Orchestra
Conducted by Tore Erik Mohn
Courtesy of GIA Publications, Inc.

User reviews345

Review

Featured review

8/10

great small scale sci-fi fare

In Texas, Roy Tomlin (Michael Shannon) and Lucas (Joel Edgerton) are being hunted by the cops for kidnapping eight year old Alton Meyer. Alton's adoptive father Calvin Meyer (Sam Shepard) leads the Ranch filled with his religious followers. They are raided by the FBI. NSA agent Paul Sevier (Adam Driver) is investigating the anomaly that is the boy. Alton shows unnatural powers with light streaming out of his eyes. Roy and Lucas eventually bring him to Sarah (Kirsten Dunst) on a rendezvous with destiny.

This has a great sense of sci-fi realism in a small indie. Shannon simply has intensity. There is a small hiccup when the boy gets captured by the authorities. That section feels disjointed with some logic problems. The movie unnecessarily over-reaches at that point. It could easily streamlined that into something grittier and smaller. In the end, this is a really nice sci-fi indie.