Loving a child unconditionally often causes parents to go to any lengths necessary in protecting the one that is most precious to them. Director Jeff Nichols has tapped into the power of paternal love in an interesting and mysterious film called MIDNIGHT SPECIAL. Using sci-fi storytelling is an unexpected and surprising way to bring to light how the power in how a parent’s love will motivate someone to do anything for the sake of their child. This is an unconventional story about faith, responsibility and devotion.
The film opens in a bland motel room with a news report coming through the television about a kidnapped 8-year-old boy as photos of his kidnapper are splashed across the screen. Lucas (Joel Edgerton) and Roy (Michael Shannon) are two men in the room listening carefully to the news report about the manhunt for the boy’s abductor. The camera pans down to the floor and we see 8-year-old Alton (Jaeden Lieberher) under the sheets with a flashlight doing what little boys do – reading a comic book. Under the cloak of darkness, Roy scoops Alton up in his arms and orders Lucas to get the car started. Alton appears safe and secure in Roy’s care… and that is because his kidnapper is his father.
Roy has escaped a place called “The Ranch” that housed a religious cult headed up by Calvin Miller (Sam Shepard). It is revealed that Calvin took Alton from his parents two years ago because it was obvious that the boy was very special. Alton, who wears googles and ear phones (indicating sensitivity to light and sound) often talks in tongue, has fits, and rattles off sequences of numbers that indicate coordinates to various destinations. Convinced that Alton is a messiah that will lead his flock into salvation, Calvin keeps the boy close by his side while not necessarily doing things in the boy’s best interests. Roy finds the strength and courage to save his child from the cult leader and enlists the help of his childhood friend Lucas to aide him in fleeing from the religious compound. Initially the goal is to reunite with Sarah (Kirsten Dunst), Alton’s mother, so they can raise their son in peace.
Alton’s health is failing and although they don’t know why, Roy, Sarah, and Lucas are determined to get the boy to the coordinates that he rattled off while in he was in one of his trance like states. The fugitives are convinced that if they don’t get Alton to the right spot in time, he may die.
Meanwhile back at The Ranch, the FBI swarms in to round up Calvin and his followers. The government officials got wind of a boy that has access to encrypted top secret data and are determined to find out how the child accessed the information and if he is a security threat. On the FBI team is data analyst Paul Server (Adam Driver) who will decipher the code and track down Alton’s location. The three adults are now fleeing two groups of people that have no real understanding of Alton’s special nature.
The cinematography in MIDNIGHT SPECIAL is beautiful. Using hues of gray and brown as the family travels past empty fields, deserted highways, dusty gas stations and old motels, the film sets the stage for a grim ambiance facing a family on the run trying to keep their child safe. There are sudden displays of special effects that although quick are brilliant and create moments of surprise throughout the film. Keeping audiences on the edge and creating anticipation that something big is going to happen are scenes of bright flashes of light, the earth shaking, and fire falling from the sky,
Adding something unique and different to each character, the cast provides some strong performances. Edgerton brings forward the almost blind loyalty Lucas has for Alton. A burly rough and tough state trooper, Lucas is deeply affected by the boy and just knows he will be in it to the end to ensure that he is delivered safely from harm. Dunst shows the motherly love of a woman who comes to realize that only difficult sacrifices will save her son. Child actor Lieberher pulls off a boy who initially seems scared and insecure, but realizes on his own that there is nothing to fear, and with a sort of calming resolve reassures the adults that love him that all will be well. Playing the goofy/nerdy FBI data analyst, Driver adds just the touch of humor that the film needed. The standout thumbs up performance goes to Shannon, as his portrayal of a father desperate to keep his son from harm has a harsh intensity, and yet he manages to display a certain gentle tenderness. Shannon creates a loving and brave strong father figure making Roy the most endearing character in the film.
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL does an excellent job of keeping the audience guessing. Questions are answered but then more questions arise throughout the film. Staying one step ahead of the viewers is what makes this production so engaging. The only issue is that by the end of the story there are still many unanswered questions and a few plot points that just don’t seem to connect. Why does Alton need to wear something over his eyes and ears? How is the earth shaking and fire falling from the sky connected to him? How did the boy come to be so special? These are just a few of the issues that are never resolved.
Witnessing what a parent goes through when dealing with a sick child, adults trying to understand the unique needs of a child, or watching a father’s devotion lead him down a new path actually gives this movie a mystical feel. Although many watching might be scratching their heads by the end of the science fiction tale, wondering what just happened, the focus of the film really should be about unconditional love and how the power of conviction will lead someone to having faith in things greater than themselves. Some might argue there is no point trying to figure out the answers to all the questions, otherwise MIDNIGHT SPECIAL may not feel so special once the exercise is over.
