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Midnight Special
Stars: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Jaeden Lieberher, Sam Shepard, Bill Camp, Scott Haze, Paul Sparks, David Jensen
Director: Jeff Nichols
Give writer/director Jeff Nichols praise for creating an opening sequence that grabs you and promises plenty. Sam Shepard briefly appears as the preacher-leader of a bizarre cult invaded in mid sermon by US government agents and the storyline thickens and quickens when we meet frequent Nichols collaborator Michael Shannon who, desperate to protect his uniquely and bizarrely gifted 8-year-old-son Jaeden Lieberher, who is given to emitting piercing rays of blue-ish light from his eyes, kidnaps the boy and, with friend Joel Edgerton, goes on the run from the authorities
As the story continues on its brisk science-fiction thriller way and becomes in essence a well-enough-made B feature, it seemed rather clear to me that Nichols recalled these and other previous genre clichés in coming up with his storyline.
I was never too bored, Lieberher, and Adam Drivers geeky CIA interrogator held my attention and the climactic special effects were effective. while Kirsten Dunst was wasted (her talent, not her frame!) But that said, my final reaction was that of disappointment.
Alan Frank
USA 2016. UK Distributor: entertainmentOne. Colour.
106 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 12.
Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 0, Swearing 1.
Review date: 21 Jun 2016