MIDNIGHT SPECIAL : Wednesday 18th May 2016.

'MIDNIGHT SPECIAL' - which I saw mid-week last week is Written and Directed by Jeff Nichols, and whilst essentially a Sci-Fi drama is is also a road movie, a chase film, and a kidnapping story all rolled into one that uses many touchstones from the movie classics of the 80's and 90's - as made by Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter and written by Stephen King. Made for US$18M it so far has recovered about one-third of that sum and deserves to do so much better however, as this is a top notch close encounter of another kind that has a strong cast, a solid story, a deft Directorial touch and a warmth, emotion and conviction at its heart. Sadly, this film is not on wide release and again I had to travel half away across Sydney to catch-it, but I'm pleased I did, and you won't be disappointed either. Despite its limited release the film has received much critical acclaim around the traps for its original premise, convincing performances, and its engaging entertainment factor.

As the film opens up we are in a cheap hotel room, and Roy Tomlin (Michael Shannon) is packing up to move on out under cover of darkness with a young lad Alton Meyer (Jaeden Lieberher) accompanied by long term friend Lucas (Joel Edgerton) - a former State Trooper. We learn soon enough that Roy is the birth father of young eight year old Alton and he is escaping from a religious cult in rural Texas where they lived happily for a number of years. Alton's mother Sarah Tomlin (Kirsten Dunst) has already fled having been excommunicated two years previously during which time she has not seen her son. Known as 'The Ranch' - the leader there, Calvin Meyer (Sam Shepard) is seen discussing Altons disappearance with two of his off-siders instilling in them the need to recover the boy within 72 hours at all costs. On the television news, beamed across the country is an alert for anyone to be on the lookout for Roy Tomlin who is believed to have abducted the young lad, although the relationship is unknown to the world at large it seems. In the meantime, the US Government, the FBI and other authorities have been alerted to young Alton, and also are hot on the trail.

So begins our road movie as we gain further insight into what makes Alton so special, and why so many are after him. It seems that while at 'The Ranch' the Tomlin's had to give up their son to be 'adopted' by Calvin Meyer (hence the name), and they practically worshipped Alton for the special otherworldly powers he possesses, and which they had seen manifested in various ways. The US Government have enlisted the help of Paul Sevier (Adam Driver) of the National Security Agency to help track down Alton and understand why a set of co-ordinates from a secret nuclear attack warning satellite were known to him and were being used by Calvin Meyer in his sermons. Roy and Lucas meanwhile know full well of Alton's special gift and have a preordained appointment three days from now at an undisclosed location where a possibly world changing event is to occur, and for which Alton must be present at all costs, and to which he is being drawn by a force not known by anyone else but him.

As the clock counts down on the given day, Alton's powers continue to manifest themselves when least expected, and these drain him of his energy and he grows noticeably weaker. Constantly on the look out for the FBI, the NSA, those from The Ranch, the Police and wary of television broadcasts and newspaper reports that could further identify them, Roy, Lucas and Alton travel by night and rest up by day  - a necessity also given Alton is intolerant to sunlight and needs to be shielded from it. After a number of incidents and near misses on their journey, the three arrive at the home of Sarah where mother and son are reunited. The next day, the four leave together, and along the way Alton senses an overhead patrol searching for him and urges the car to stop. He flees with Roy into the woods and finds a cave in which to hide overnight, while Sarah and Lucas continue to a motel nearby.

The next morning Alton indicates to Roy that he needs to see the sunrise, and although knowing the harm it can potentially cause Roy reluctantly agrees receiving reassurance from Alton that it will be alright. Moving into a clearing, as the sun rises behind the trees, the earth begins to shake violently and a dome of light then engulfs them. Later, they arrive at the motel where Alton is newly invigorated, energised and looking much healthier than he did just twelve hours ago, and he begins to explain that he now knows where his powers originate from, what he must do and where they must now go.

Later the four exit the motel room to continue their onward journey, but are ambushed in the process by two of Calvin Meyer's henchmen from The Ranch. They fire on Roy and Lucas, and manage to cable-tie their hands together and those of Sarah, and make off with Alton. Able to free themselves they give chase, but get caught up in traffic jam and soon discover that the vehicle carrying Alton had been halted by the FBI and Alton had been captured and taken away to a facility for questioning. Wired up to various monitors he is questioned by Paul Sevier whom Alton asked for specifically from behind a glass screen, and with whom he has had no previous contact. Alton demonstrates his powers to Sevier that he can now increasingly manifest at will, convincing the NSA Agent to co-operate and help him escape the facility to be reunited with his family so that his mission can be accomplished.

Making their escape at night and after Alton has caused a massive power outage across the whole facility so disabling security cameras, lights, gates etc. young Alton and Sevier make their getaway, meeting up with Roy, Sarah and Lucas at an isolated location where the boy can be reunited with those who will see out his mission. Travelling through open country on back roads the day has arrived when Alton's destiny becomes clear. Sevier had analysed the co-ordinates known to Alton and determined that they represent the meeting place that the family are now hurrying toward. With the FBI now laying a strict cordon around that location, Sarah and Alton continue their journey on foot as Alton increasingly senses that the place is close by. Roy and Lucas provide the necessary distraction in the vehicle.

As Sarah and Alton enter a clearing, the young lad walks on ahead, leaving Mum behind looking on - knowing that this is probably the last time she will ever see her child. Standing motionless the ground begins to shake, and a huge explosion of light creates a dome that covers most of the southeastern corner of the United States. Meanwhile, the vehicle that Roy and Lucas are travelling is set upon by FBI armoured pursuit vehicles ultimately causing it to crash and flip end over end several times coming to rest on its roof. This occurs as the dome of light is seen by Roy, Lucas, those authorities in pursuit and the entire population of that south eastern corner of the US - together with what is contained within the dome of light, which hitherto had been known by Alton and communicated to his parents and Lucas the day before after watching the sunrise. Within minutes the dome vanishes, and so too has Alton.

I really enjoyed this film - it moves along at a good pace, the story is fresh and original, and it is hard to pigeon-hole this film into any one category. The performances are solid, grounded and believable; and it contains all the elements you want from a movie - emotion, thrills, suspense, spectacle, surprises in equal measure that are not overcooked or added in just for effect. Make the effort and seek out this film where you can - you'll be pleased you did.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-