Moral Rating: | not reviewed |
Moviemaking Quality: |
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Primary Audience: | • Adults • Young-Adults • Teens |
Genre: | Sci-Fi Action Adventure Thriller |
Length: | 1 hr. 51 min. |
Year of Release: | 2016 |
USA Release: |
March 12, 2016 (festival) March 18, 2016 (limited—5 theaters) April 1, 2016 (limited—58 theaters) April 8, 2016 (wide—493 theaters) DVD: June 21, 2016 |
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Featuring |
Jaeden Lieberher … Alton Kirsten Dunst … Sarah Joel Edgerton … Lucas Adam Driver … Sevier Michael Shannon … Roy Sam Shepard … Calvin Meyer Paul Sparks … Agent Miller Sean Bridgers … Fredrick See all » |
Director | Jeff Nichols — “Mud” (2003), “Take Shelter” |
Producer |
Tri-State Pictures Warner Bros. |
Distributor |
Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “A provocative, genre-defying film as supernatural as it is intimately human, it follows a father, Roy (Michael Shannon), who goes on the run to protect his young son, Alton (Jaeden Lieberher), a boy with mysterious powers that even Roy himself cannot comprehend.
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.
Shannon portrays a father protecting his uniquely gifted 8-year-old son who has supernatural powers, played by newcomer Jaeden Lieberher, while being hunted by a religious sect and a government task force.
This sci-fi chase thriller stars Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (‘Boardwalk Empire,’ ‘Man of Steel’) as Roy, a father desperate to protect his uniquely gifted, 8 year old son Alton (newcomer Jaeden Lieberher). Joined by Joel Edgerton (‘The Great Gatsby,’ ‘Animal Kingdom’) and Kirsten Dunst (‘Spider-Man,’ ‘Melancholia’), this group must race to get Alton to a secret location, all while being hunted by an extreme religious sect led by Sam Shepard (‘Mud,’ ‘August: Osage County’) and a government task force headed up by Adam Driver (‘Girls’). It is a full-on chase, the outcome of which could bring about a world-changing event.
Nichols says he wanted ‘Midnight Special’ to be a road movie like John Carpenter’s ‘Starman.’”
PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.
The only issue that parents will have with their children is that there are a few scenes of intense action violence that involve a little bit of bloodshed, some moderate threat and peril, and one scene involving a car flipping over. One other scene shows a meteor shower destroying a gas station. Alton’s incidences involving his glowing eyes will also scare sensitive moviegoers. It’s these scenes that give the film a PG-13 rating. It does move somewhat slow at times, also, so I think this is best for ages 12 and up.
But, for Christians and media-wise viewers, this is one of the better choices in theaters nowadays. If you are a fan of sci-fi movies, then this is a must-see.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½