One of the special things about movies from the 80’s is that they could star child leads, but the stories that they told were completely grown up. Whether it was a group of kids who found a dead body in Stand By Me, or the girl in Poltergeist, there was a different level of maturity in some movies, that was specifically catered towards adults. Steven Spielberg was the master of this and defined the approach with his classic E.T.
Next month director Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter, Mud) wrote and directed a movie that immediately brings to mind the classics from that era. Judging from this latest trailer for Midnight Special, it may be one of the bigger movies to look forward to. The movie boasts an all-star cast featuring Michael Shannon (Man of Steel), Joel Edgerton (Black Mass), Kirsten Dunst (Spider-Man), and Adam “Kylo Ren” Driver (Star Wars: The Force Awakens). Clearly from the talent involved, this movie has a chance to be something special.
Midnight Special looks to be a very grounded take on what would actually happen to a child who developed dangerous powers. It’s possible that this is the X-Men movie that many have always wanted. Shannon plays the father and he’s known for dialing up the intensity after harboring simmering anger, so it should be a treat to see him go on a rampage protecting his son. Nichols has experience with child actors also, as he directed the new Cyclops, Tye Sheridan (X-Men: Apocalypse), in one of the best movies of 2012, Mud. This definitely looks like it has the potential to be something special. Enjoy the trailer.
Official Synopsis:
In the sci-fi thriller “Midnight Special,” writer/director Jeff Nichols proves again that he is one of the most compelling storytellers of our time, as a father (Michael Shannon), goes on the run to protect his young son, Alton (Jaeden Lieberher), and uncover the truth behind the boy’s special powers.
What starts as a race from religious extremists and local law enforcement quickly escalates to a nationwide manhunt involving the highest levels of the Federal Government. Ultimately his father risks everything to protect Alton and help fulfill a destiny that could change the world forever, in this genre–defying film as supernatural as it is intimately human.
Midnight Special opens on March 18th, 2016. Make sure you take a break from your Daredevil season 2 marathon to go check it out in theaters.
What did you think of the trailer? What movies does it remind you of? Let us know on the comment boards, , , and !