"Midnight Special: It doesn't matter. Good people die every day believing in things."
On the surface Midnight Special is a mid-level budget action film, but it approaches the science-fiction genre from an unconventional angle. Whilst the premise is nothing new; the two protagonists Michael Shannon (Roy) & Joel Edgerton (Lucas) escort a young dependent child by the name of Alton with abilities away from an overbearing authority and a cult that disturbingly worships the child. Beneath the surface there is a critique on the current wave of superhero films and the prevalent practice of glorifying city destruction that we so often see.
The film does little to shy away from comparisons of big budget blockbusters with the child drawing his power from the sun, it's interesting that Michael Shannon is cast as Alton's father who only a few years previously portrayed General Zod in Man Of Steel, where the protagonist Clark Kent also draws his power from the sun. The film is blunt in it's references so much so that Alton reads a Superman comic book in the back seat of a car with a torchlight as they flee from the antagonists. As a further nod to the audience Director Jeff Nichols cast's Kirsten Dunst as Alton's estranged mother Sarah who previously portrayed Mary-Jane in the globally successful Spider-Man franchise.
This can easily be watched or dismissed as a Superhero film on a budget but really when taking into account Jeff Nichols previous works such as "Take Shelter" & "Mud" it's easy to see he has an affinity for the existential, this may seem pretentious to some and that's perfectly fine but I believe the film deserves a closer look. Midnight Special draws specific attention to the tropes it borrows from contemporary blockbusters as a way to shine a light on the formulaic way film studio's are pumping out large volumes of Superhero movies.
When Alton's powers are triggered, they are triggered violently but only in an accidental manner, hence why the government chases him so doggedly. This theme is also prevalent in Man Of Steel where Superman is feared for his destructive abilities but that was handled with much less gravitas by Director Zack Snyder who to be fair was making a blockbuster that had to broadly appeal to mass audiences.
The ominous cult that so desperately want Alton back are addicted to looking into his eyes, which seem to be where his powers stem from. When looking into Alton's eyes people attest to an overwhelming sense of euphoria and an escape from the woes of daily life on earth. This is most likely a metaphor for the current state of film goers being drawn to Superhero films as a way to live out our own escapist fantasies. Midnight Special serves as a warning that with our unbridled obsession with Superhero films we are in a way holding ourselves and the artist back from being able to tell original and compelling stories.
Midnight Special is a diamond in the rough that deserved a wider audience but failed to appeal to the masses because as I said previously it's only a mid-level budget action film. It's an entertaining ride that will make you consider the current state of the film business that's obsessed with rehashing old properties. 4.8/5
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