“Midnight Special” is one of those rare, stimulating creations that grabs you and penetrates your bloodstream from start to finish. This unique tale about a kid with special powers skillfully melds mood and story, giving the entire experience the feel of a thrilling getaway chase—one that you’re part of, too. Director Jeff Nichols dares you to get in, shut up, and come along for the late-night drive down some desolate Southern roads where the headlights are optional and the mission is life or death.
As with his riveting 2011 breakout “Take Shelter,” Nichols doesn’t reveal details carelessly. It forces you to pay attention and give yourself to his vision.
Take the first scene. We hear about a child’s abduction on a television broadcast. Then we discover that we’re with two men (Michael Shannon as Roy and Joel Edgerton as Lucas) in a motel room. They’re paranoid about something. Then we see a white bedsheet draped over the outline of what appears to be a child, and you realize you’re with the abductors. It’s an unsettling milieu.
