Most moviegoers may not know who Jeff Nichols is, but the director has been steadily gaining praise from critics for the contemplative, thematically rich work he’s delivered since bursting onto the scene less than a decade ago. Each of his first three films (Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter and Mud) gradually pushed Nichols closer to the mainstream, and his latest release, Midnight Special, serves as his much-anticipated entrance into big-studio world. But does the film — his fourth consecutive collaboration with actor Michael Shannon — retain the strong voice that brought Nichols to prominence in the first place?

The film follows Roy (Shannon), whose son Alton (Jaeden Lieberher) is being doggedly pursued by both a religious cult — led by enigmatic Calvin Meyer (Sam Shepard) — and the U.S. government, including an idealistic NSA agent (Adam Driver). Father and son are accompanied by Lucas (Joel Edgerton), and the three of them race against time to search for answers to the seemingly supernatural powers Alton exhibits.

Nichols was reportedly inspired by 1980s chase films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and John Carpenter’s Starman, and that influence is plain to see in much of Midnight Special. The mystery surrounding Alton’s abilities and the circumstances that led the film’s trio of characters into this dangerous predicament are unraveled with such precision and at such a tempered pace that you’ll swear that Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment had a hand in it. The moody score by David Wingo and the film’s masterful contrast of light and darkness only serve to further develop the story’s initial ambiguity.

Yet, in addition to this tonal and thematic connection, Midnight Special just might be the most blatant exploration yet of Nichols’ key themes. There’s a real sense of destiny in the film, of the omnipresent debate between faith and science, and — perhaps most of all — of deep and abiding love. Sure, Nichols’ film is chockful of religious allegories. The references early on to Superman comics, and the cult’s assertion that Alton is some kind of messianic figure loom large over its latter two acts, presumably setting the stage for some divine revelations to come to light.

Ultimately, audiences may be frustrated or let down by the lack of concrete answers Midnight Special actually provides to the questions it raises, and to be fair, the film is apparently uninterested in clarifying details surrounding its characters’ story. Rather than inspire audiences with a cohesive, detail-rich plot, some films opt to inspire and move viewers by delving into themes and emotions. In the case of Midnight Special at least, Nichols undoubtedly falls in the latter category.

The film’s marketing may tease some otherworldly elements and build up “the truth behind Alton” (which, incidentally, would have made an interesting alternate title). Still, it shines the brightest when it hones in on the relationship between Roy and Alton. This inextricable parent-child love — poignantly summed up in one scene toward the end of the film — serves as the emotional bread and butter of Midnight Special. Moviegoers looking for a thrilling alien encounter might be at severe risk of nodding off during Midnight Special (the fact that much of the film appropriately at night certainly doesn’t help), but for those onboard for a more meditative, slow-burn sci-fi story, Nichols’ latest just might fit the bill.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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