Introduction
There have been few movies in 2020 that managed to pique my interest. Yet, this little sci-fi underdog managed to catch my attention. A low budget indie film, The Vast of Night is a tense mystery movie directed by Andrew Patterson, a man who poured his life and funds into making this film. There is a level of respect one gets after watching someone’s work and knowing the amount of effort placed into it.
Setting and Plot
The Vast of Night takes place during the 1950s in New Mexico, where a young telephone operator by the name of Fay Crocker (portrayed by Sierra McCormick) and a radio host called Everett Sloan (portrayed by Jake Horowitz) investigate a strange signal, along with the disappearances of several townsfolk.
The film’s setting is synonymous with the many UFO sightings and conspiracy theories that were going on that the time. Patterson himself remarked that his movie was loosely based on the Kecksburg UFO incident that occurred in 1965.
The opening has an amusing sequence surrounding future technologies from Fay’s perspective, such as smartphones, GPS systems and automated cars. One cannot help but smile as Everett Sloan disregards the devices we now take for granted.
The film’s 50s inspired presentation looks like it came straight from the Twilight Zone, complete with a slow close up of a television, a similar aesthetic to anthology series. However, the rural American town setting feels reminiscent of Stephen King’s IT films and even Stranger Things.
The film does a lot to conserve its run time, with long monologues of text and dialogue, which you usually only find in Shakespearean plays and political speeches. However, the creepy tones of these interviews actually make up for this. Some of these scenes go on for ten minutes straight yet still manage to stay enticing thanks to flattering camera shots.
Speaking of artistic choices, the film’s use of camerawork is rather unique. The town trails off from Fay and slowly crosses through the village before reaching Sloan. The camera’s positioning and movement resemble a child walking curiously through a crowd of people while watching them go about their business. While one can consider this to be extra padding to conserve time, it does provide a layer of mystique to the movie.
The film does suffer from some lighting issues, as there are certain scenes where the dark atmosphere makes it difficult to tell head or tail what is going on. This issue feels more like a budget problem than anything else.
Character and Performances
The banter between the two leads was fantastic, along with their mid-century accents. Sierra McCormick’sportrayal as the nerdy Fay Crocker makes her character adorable. Her goofy yet shy personality is a direct contrast to the more charismatic Sloan. If one listens very carefully, they could detect a slight crush between her and Sloan, but this looks like a one-sided affair.
The Vast of Night’s most gripping aspect is its build-up of anticipation through its interviews. One could switch off their monitors and only listen to their speakers and still be just as invested. While Gail Cronauer did an excellent job with her role, an old hermit with a harrowing tale about her son’s disappearance, it is Billy’s(portrayed by Bruce Davis) description of events when he was in the army that sent a chill down my spine.
Conclusion
While this is a good film, I can imagine many being discouraged by its slow opening. If you are expecting a more action-oriented movie, similar to Independence Day or War of the Worlds, then The Vast of Night is not for you. If you prefer watching films like mystery movies like Knives Out, then you will probably enjoy this fantastic flick.
You can find The Vast of Night on Amazon Prime!
