We have no idea what we’re dealing with in Midnight Special — I mean that regarding both the characters at the center of this supernatural and/or paranormal phenomenon and the observing audience. The new Midnight Special trailer doesn’t do much to answer any of our pressing questions, but it seems like the thrill of this film will be more about the journey than the destinations themselves.
The footage introduces us to a young boy — or, rather, the hype and intrigue surrounding this boy. Some people may have a metaphorical light inside them, but Alton (Jaeden Lieberher) has a literal light that is bursting forth. Those around him, including his frightened but protective parents and the encroaching government officials, don’t know what’s happening or why. One thing they know is that everyone, from local law enforcement to religious fanatics to the F.B.I., wants to get their hands on him. What ensues is a cross-country chase in which Alton’s father (Michael Shannon) attempts to find somewhere safe for his son.
Watch the trailer below:
Jeff Nichols, in turn, has been on our watch list of talented filmmakers ever since projects like Take Shelter and Mud first started making the film festival rounds. His recent work, Loving, about the interracial marriage that helped further the Civil Rights movement in the ‘50s, has been making headlines thanks to a bidding battle that left Focus Features with distribution rights. Midnight Special is equally high profile, thanks to the incredible casting, mysterious story, and Nichols’ spot-on track record.
The cast is rounded out by the likes of Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, and Sam Shepard. The film will hit theaters on March 18th. Here's the film's 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.
