Synopsis:
In the twilight of the 1950s, on one fateful night in New Mexico, a young, winsome switchboard operator Fay (Sierra McCormick) and charismatic radio DJ Everett (Jake Horowitz) discover a strange audio frequency that could change their small town and the future forever.
There’s never a bad time for a paranormal/sci-fi mystery movie. It seems to awaken this childlike-wonder in us all, especially when done well and is currently on our minds (google the Mage, Brazil UFO). The mysterious and unknown, orbs forming into triangles in the sky, giant figures walking through the woods, or weird sounds inferring with radio signals are just a few strange phenomena that people have witnessed for decades. If you look at our world today, it’s easy to be skeptical and assume that a lot of what you see in videos is fake, especially since editing software is widely available. Not only are some of the videos incredibly believable, but then they also get shared by the thousands. Weirdly enough, knowing that there are so many fraudulent videos, you’d never know if you saw the real thing unless you were there to see it in person. Focusing on radio interference, The Vast of Night tells the story of an eerie night in New Mexico during the 1950s that exposes an odd past and uncertain future. It’s got to be the Communist, is what the young radio host, Everett thinks, highlighting the red scare of the time. What do you do when strange noises are coming through your speaker, people are seeing unidentifiable things in the night sky, and someone contacts you and confirms what you think can’t be possible is more of a reality than you can imagine? And that is when it all gets interesting.
The movie does a great job in the first act setting up its two main characters. Two very different people but the difference in age creates a mentor/mentee relationship and what binds them is uncovering the truth. The dark aesthetic of the film’s setting paired with its main conflict builds great tension. My screening was at a drive-in and I became so enthralled that I ignored the fact that the lawn chair I was sitting in was about to break. Yes, I fell and yes, it was probably hilarious. Anyway, what made the movie so enjoyable was it’s creativity, descriptiveness, and tone. The details described in two huge scenes can give you chills. Oddly enough, where I thought the movie lacked was also its strength. I felt that there should’ve been more integral characters for the stars to play off of. On the other hand, the simplicity of the cast puts the audience more in the driver seat of the story. Nevertheless, the production design was great, everything looked authentically 50s. With some great cinematic shots, a good script, and a somewhat unexpected ending, The Vast of Night is a very fun watch. I’d rank it’s rewatchability as medium-high. Oh, and I suggest watching it at night as well.
Plot & Pace
Taking place in one night, the story follows Fay, a science-curious high school student and Everett, a fast-talking, tech-savvy radio host. The pair attempt to uncover the mysterious lights and sounds occurring in their small New Mexico town. Is it all a hoax? Could it be the Communists? Or is it something otherworldly? Initially, I felt as if the film was moving too slow in the first act, but one scene changed everything and it was off to the races.
Characters & Chemistry
Fay (Sierra McCormick) and Everett (Jake Horowitz) played off each other very well. Fay is very smart, curious, and is like a Watson to Everett’s Sherlock Holmes. Everett is highly confident and seems to talk until something profound comes out. However, his skill set allows him to talk his way into discovery. I kind of hope there’s a sequel.
The Vast of Night becomes available today on Prime Video. Enjoy and stay safe.
Director: Andrew Patterson
Writers: James Montague and Craig W. Sanger
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 1h 29m
Rating: 4 out of 5
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
