Sci-Fi Thriller MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (86% Rotten Tomatoes Score)

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Update: November 19, 2015

First Trailer for Jeff Nichols' Sci-Fi Drama MIDNIGHT SPECIAL

Warner Bros. has released the first Midnight Special trailer for Mud and Take Shelter writer/director Jeff Nichols' upcoming sci-fi thriller. Michael Shannon stars as a father who goes on the run to protect his young son (Jaeden Lieberher) and uncover the truth about the boy's special powers. The film also stars Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Bill Camp, Scott Haze, Paul Sparks, and Sam Shepard. Midnight Special opens in theaters on March 18, 2015.

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.



Trailer for Jeff Nichols' Midnight Special Starring Michael Shannon

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Update: February 15, 2016

2nd Trailer for Jeff Nichols' Sci-Fi Drama MIDNIGHT SPECIAL

Writer/director Jeff Nichols says that one of his chief inspirations for Midnight Special was John Carpenter’s Starman, and the new trailer for this mysterious film evokes that undervalued gem and more. While the preview is intentionally bereft of hard information on plot or characters, the vibe here is totally old school Steven Spielberg.

Like the first trailer, the new Midnight Special trailer looks like the paranoid sci-fi of the ’70s collided with a classic ’80s Amblin film and it looks fascinating. You shouldn’t expect anything less from the director of Mud, Take Shelter, and Shotgun Stories.

Michael Shannon plays the father of a young boy with supernatural powers and that they’re on the run from the government. Adam Driver is somehow involved in the pursuit and Kristen Dunst has some kind of familial connection to the boy. Joel Edgerton and Sam Shepard round out the impressive cast. Midnight Special will play the 2016 SXSW Film Festival before opening in theaters on March 18, 2016.



‘Midnight Special’ Trailer: Jeff Nichols Channels Carpenter and Spielberg and It Looks Great

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Update: March 9, 2016

International Trailer for MIDNIGHT SPECIAL Highlights the Kid's Powers

Warner Bros. Pictures (via eOne) has just released a new international trailer for their upcoming sci-fi thriller, Midnight Special. The impressive ensemble cast includes Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Jaeden Lieberher, and Sam Shepard.

From Mud and Take Shelter writer and director Jeff Nichols, Midnight Special follows a father (Michael Shannon), who 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.

Sarah Green and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, who previously collaborated with Nichols on Take Shelter, are producing Midnight Special. The film is slated to hit theaters on March 18.



International Trailer for Jeff Nichols' Sci-Fi Drama 'Midnight Special' Shows Off Its Powers

 

[Guestx]

I had never even heard about this movie but saw it on the front page of Metacritic and noticed it was getting good reviews.

92% on Rotten Tomatoes: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/midnight_special_2015/
79% on Metacritic: http://www.metacritic.com/movie/midnight-special

Looks like it could be cool.

 

[MC Paul Barman]

But there's only 13 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes right now.
Usually it seems, when a lesser known film is released, the first reviews are positive.... because the film was in the niche of the film reviewers interest.

Then it comes down when more reviews come.

 

[Guestx]

But there's only 13 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes right now.
Usually it seems, when a lesser known film is released, the first reviews are positive.... because the film was in the niche of the film reviewers interest.

Then it comes down when more reviews come.

But it's a good sign nonetheless. I enjoyed the director's previous efforts, Take Shelter and Mud, and Michael Shannon is always reliably good.

I guess the real question is: Did the trailer interest you?

 

[Ceez]

I'd watch looks interdasting

 

[MC Paul Barman]

But it's a good sign nonetheless. I enjoyed the director's previous efforts, Take Shelter and Mud, and Michael Shannon is always reliably good.

I guess the real question is: Did the trailer interest you?

I like Michael Shannon.
Trailer is blocked here at work.... I'll have to watch it when I get home.

 

[Guestx]

I like Michael Shannon.
Trailer is blocked here at work.... I'll have to watch it when I get home.

Only Satanists block trailers at work. Time to change jobs, bro.

 

[Guestx]

Apparently some people are saying the movie--right down to the title--was ripped off from this music video. There do appear to be too many similarities for it to be a coincidence.

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Critics' Reviews for MIDNIGHT SPECIAL

Rotten Tomatoes: 84% approval rating (41 out of 49 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Midnight Special's intriguing mysteries may not resolve themselves to every viewer's liking, but the journey is ambitious, entertaining, and terrifically acted.

Entertainment Weekly - Nichols keeps us guessing in a way that evokes Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Midnight Special is a more modest, more enigmatic film than that one was, but it's no less gripping. A-

Newark Star-Ledger - One of the great pleasures in moviegoing is when you can confidently add a director's name to your "Can't wait to see what they do next" list. With "Midnight Special," Jeff Nichols definitely qualifies. 3/4

A.V. Club - Midnight Special defines characters through what they can't understand, contrasting fear of the unknown with faith in it, and flipping the supernatural into a metaphor for the everyday. A-

Collider - Jeff Nichols' impressive production values suggests that he's thought through the details of this sci-fi scenario extensively. The problem is, he doesn't share them and that can make Midnight Special frustrating and unfulfilling. 2.5/5

Rolling Stone - In this spellbinding sci-fi chase movie, UFOs take a back seat to identifiable human emotions. Go with it. Let director Jeff Nichols turn your head around. 3.5/4

JoBlo's Movie Emporium - Midnight Special is a revelation. It may sound like the filmmaker borrows heavily from others, but believe me, this is still absolutely fresh. It is compelling and ultimately it carries a huge emotional impact. 10/10

 

[El Chimpo]

Apparently some people are saying the movie--right down to the title--was ripped off from this music video. There do appear to be too many similarities for it to be a coincidence.

love that song

 

[deise69]

Apparently some people are saying the movie--right down to the title--was ripped off from this music video. There do appear to be too many similarities for it to be a coincidence.

It's not exactly a new idea really, parent on the run with special kid, being chased by shadowey gov figures.

 

[MadSquabbles500]

Firestarter pretty cool cuz she set people on fire. They tried to do a series to continue the story. They should just remake.

 

[Thai Domi]

Where is this playing? It opened March 18, but Moviefone says no showtimes available.

 

[Thai Otoshi]

I want to check this out.

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Where is this playing? It opened March 18, but Moviefone says no showtimes available.

The movie expanded to 58 theaters last April 1. Still might not be enough though.

 

[melvinj0]

Midnight Special - 7.5/10

I really enjoyed this a lot, suspenseful thriller with some cool Sci Fi aspects thrown in, great cast too. Only down side was the ending that kind of fell flat imo.