The Vast of Night (2019) Review

The Vast of Night (2019) 

Set in the 1950s, The Vast of Night follows two teenagers in search for the source of a mysterious radio frequency that has descended upon their town.

The tell signs of a really good film is it’s ability to stick with you long after you’ve watched it. This is one of those movies. Coming into this, I expected a low budget (which it was) alien flick that played on the usual stereotypes and bad acting the genre is used to. I couldn’t have been more wrong though. It’s a stunning period piece that captures all the intrigue and innocence of 1950s America, in a time where small towns were more intimate and unified, and when the future seemed like an endless and uncertain stream of far-reaching possibilities.

Using this knowledge, it thrusts us into a spin on the Twilight Zone, in a move that feels fresh and ingenious in it’s use, especially considering the extreme attention to detail. A good period piece complements the story, not uses it as a crutch, which is why I am so in love with this movie. There’s clever references Sputnik, particularly interesting but odd use of the slang and jargon of the time, and even the historical atrocities the government imposed upon people of color; using race as a way of covering up military operations. 

The uneasy tension leaves you on the edge of your seat, using long takes (at the switchboard or the incredible one-take, tracking shot that goes through the whole town), gut-wrenchingly scary monologues, and stark visuals that build off a whole movie’s tension and provide a spectacular conclusion that leaves you in utter disbelief with it’s calming beauty but evocative realization. Add to that the hauntingly brilliant score from Erick Alexander, which provides a mysterious tone that only builds in awe. 

We get a surprisingly terrific cast, starring Bruce Davis, Gail Cronauer, Sierra McCormick, and Jake Horowitz. Horowitz is shockingly great here, a perfect fit for the fast-talking, over-confident radio host. His pairing with McCormick also works so well, with her childlike innocence not getting in the way, but adding to the old fashioned beauty and mystery the movie tries to portray. 

The Vast of Night, directed by Andrew Patterson in his directorial debut, vividly conjures the feel of golden age science fiction, charismaticly capturing your imagination and sense of wonder in a time where people from outer space were an afterthought, perfectly playing on the idea of show, not tell. 

10/10