Movie Background

Midnight Special

A father and son must go on the run once the father learns his child possesses extraordinary powers.

Director(s)

Jeff Nichols

Jean-Paul Chreky

Cast & Crew

Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton

Lucas

Jean-Paul Chreky

Jean-Paul Chreky

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Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst

Sarah Tomlin

James Moses Black

James Moses Black

Military Officer

Adam Driver

Adam Driver

Agent Sevier

Scott Haze

Scott Haze

Levi

James DuMont

James DuMont

Base Commander

Bill Camp

Bill Camp

Doak

David Jensen

David Jensen

Elden

Michael Shannon

Michael Shannon

Roy Tomlin

Paul Sparks

Paul Sparks

Agent Miller

Nancy Grace

Nancy Grace

Nancy Grace

Wayne Péré

Wayne Péré

Prison FBI Agent

Billy Slaughter

Billy Slaughter

Agent Cole

Ann Mahoney

Ann Mahoney

FBI Agent #1

Jaeden Martell

Jaeden Martell

Alton Meyer

Kerry Cahill

Kerry Cahill

Linda (NSA Staffer)

John L. Armijo

John L. Armijo

National Guardsman (uncredited)

Sam Shepard

Sam Shepard

Calvin Meyer

Dane Rhodes

Dane Rhodes

Oil Worker

Dana Gourrier

Dana Gourrier

Sharon Davison

Yvonne Landry

Yvonne Landry

Motel Clerk

Maureen Brennan

Maureen Brennan

Woman at Truckstop

Sam Malone

Sam Malone

Soldier at Roadblock

Lucy Faust

Lucy Faust

Caroline (Ranch Member)

Garrett Hines

Garrett Hines

FBI Agent #2

Sean Bridgers

Sean Bridgers

Fredrick (Ranch Member)

Jeff Nichols

Jeff Nichols

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Sharon Garrison

Sharon Garrison

Jane Adams (Sarah's Mother)

Sean Kaplan

Sean Kaplan

Texas State Trooper

Alexander Eldimiati

Alexander Eldimiati

Stand in (uncredited)

Allison Gabriel

Allison Gabriel

Hannah (Ranch Member)

Sharon Landry

Sharon Landry

Merrianne (Doak's Wife)

D'Arcy Allen

D'Arcy Allen

FBI Agent (uncredited)

Lee Zurik

Lee Zurik

Local Newscaster #1

Nicondra Norwood

Nicondra Norwood

Local Newscaster #2

Lynn Berry

Lynn Berry

Lynn Berry

Michelle Benet

Michelle Benet

Car Crash Victim (uncredited)

Details

GenresAdventure, Drama, Science Fiction
Runtime1h 52 mins
Released on18 Feb 2016
Languageen
Produced InUnited States of America
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Reviews

Reno

7/10

> A secret road adventure during the dark hours! So the Jeff Nichols and Micahel Shannon saga continues. This is theirs 4th film together in the last nine years and all of them were well accepted. Now they are into sci-fi for this, which is kind of a road movie that resembles hundreds of other films. Only thematically, but in parts it looks different, especially for being too realistic as what the director is famous for. Finally, something is not a comedy or a full of CGI, yet still it is a wonderful sci-fi-drama with some thrill moments. It opened like the midway of the story. We obviously have to wait for a proper explanation to know what's going on, who is the child and where they're taking him. So it all begins with two armed men driving a young kid on the dark hours. Only we know is that they are protecting the boy from the government people, but the film took some time to give a clear picture of the condition. In the meantime, I started my prediction game, but I expected the film to clarify how it all began. It never cared about that part, only moved forward and that's how we're going to get some answers where a few might feel its a let down. The negative of the film is you won't fully understand it, but it is not an incomplete story, just designed that way that leaves for the viewer to add their own perspectives to where the writer left blank spaces. Like I said the people are comparing it with the similar films and I did not care about that, but I disappointed with the conclusion. It was neatly folded, I actually liked it, but it was not fresh, especially it totally mirrors 'Tomorrowland'. Now I know why Warner Bros moved it from last year to this year's release. It might be a coincident because the director who is also the writer has a good reputation, so I believe it is definitely not a steal, just a common creative that we've already seen many films like that. Overall, this film is worth, but might not satisfy the Jeff Nichols fans, because like I said plenty of times before in my reviews, now it the sci-fi era and every filmmaker and film-star want to board on that plane. So it did not spare Jeff Nichols as well. 7/10

heartly

7/10

Midnight Special is an entertaining Sci-fi flick that ultimately never reaches it's full potential. The father son on the run story is griping and well played with the talent of Michael Shannon who is believable as a father who will do anything to get his gifted son to where he needs to be. Dunst and Edgerton do some fairly solid work also as Altons mother and I believe step father. The dialogue is believable, the action and Sci-fi elements are all well put together. The concept almost ET like is interesting. The CGI is acceptable if not spectacular. The music well scored if not memorable. I personally found this movie felt long at 1h52mins and for some reason I felt the movie should of been set in an earlier time period like the 70s or 80's. These are small personal gripes and you may ask why it does not achieve it's full potential. The answer is simply the way it ends, it felt small or empty. These characters had done so much, for this child and somehow the movie had left me with zero emotional connection to how the story played out. The father and son connection was the strongest element in the movie and this I felt needed a bigger part in the ending of this film, but for some reason they chose to pull back on this right at the buzzer. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Science fiction as a worthy watch. My final score 3.5 stars.

Gimly

7/10

It's like _Donnie Darko_ and _Looper_ had a baby. A less talented baby, but still, pretty impressive. _Final rating:★★★½ - I strongly recommend you make the time._

All Trailers

Midnight Special - Trailer 2 [HD]
Midnight Special - Trailer 1 [HD]

Teasers

Cinemax Trailer
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL - OFFICIAL UK SHORT TRAILER [HD]
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