Midnight Special is Jeff Nichols' first studio film with a slick sci-fi, thriller element.
But does the chase get to where it needs to be?
In 2011, Jeff Nichols premiered his second film,Take Shelter,at the Sundance Film Festival.
Instantly, audiences realized that one of the most interesting new voices in American cinema had been announced.
Thus withMidnight Special, Nichols takes another ambitious step as a storyteller: hes made a studio thriller.
As the center of that web, Michael Shannon is unsurprisingly terrific as the quiet and desperate Roy.
For the record, they must travel at night, simply because Altons pupils are too sensitive for sunlight.
Hence,Midnight Specialis an interesting film, but not the cathartic epic that Nichols likely planned.
But this road trip never reaches its intended destination.
Rating:
2.5 out of 5
