THE VAST OF NIGHT (2019). A REWARDING HOMAGE TO THE TWILIGHT ZONE CLASSICS. MOVIE REVIEW

A fresh take on old Twilight Zone themes.

When creators have love and dedication for a project, and of course, talent, the result is a movie like «The Vast of Night«.

The Vast of Night airing thru on Amazon Prime in 2020. Set in a small town in the United States in the late 50s. Meanwhile, all the inhabitants attend the local high school basketball game, the local radio DJ and the switchboard phone operator hear a strange radio signal. This enigma leads them to investigate the origin of this mysterious frequency. Through the deserted streets of the town in the middle of the night, they will find more they could ever imagine.

From the beginning, we know the precise intention of the film: a tribute to the original episodes of the Twilight Zone and the radio programs when TV was not a common item in every house. Throughout the film, we see the characters through an old black and white television, as characters of a mystery TV show, ignorant of the strange story where they are unwilling participants.

Small production big on talent.

There are many positive technical aspects to highlight, beginning with director Andrew Patterson’s skilled camera work on this, his first feature film. Several shots are made almost at ground level, emphasizing the dark and vast night sky, threatening and full of mysteries, always omnipresent over the characters. Also, there are long shots following the characters when they go walking through the desert town, give us the possibility of knowing more about them, their desires, ambitions, and naivety of the people living in the US society of the late 50s.

It is a great success to have chosen the end of the 50s to place the story. A very different time when innocence and ingenuousness and the hope of a better future were part of the hopes of all the ordinary people. The technological advances happening at an accelerated pace collided with superstition and a traditional way of life, coupled with the fear of a highly possible nuclear attack in the middle of the cold war permeated the majority of the population.

Talent all around.

Lead actors Sierra McCormick and Jake Horowitz do an excellent and credible job. These two unknown actors imbue the characters with the freshness and innocence required for the story. They deliver a convincing, imaginative, and cunning script, Patterson also collaborating with writing. At the same time, the text is clever and grounded, with quick dialogues reminiscent of screwball comedies which were very popular at the time. Because of this, the film manages to maintain the interest of the viewer at all times. By gradually developing the plot, the characters and the spectators discover the mystery at the same time.

Miguel Littin-Menz’s cinematography is careful to let us observe the details on every scene even while most of the film has very few light sources. Even the scenes developing on the outside and have only the moonlight as a light source. The use of a sepia and blue color palette creates the impression that this was filmed back in that era. The sound is also noteworthy. We can hear the constant sound of crickets accompanying the characters at night, accentuating the lack of people around and increasing the sense of isolation.

Bright future.

One of the most valuable aspects of the film, and what makes it refreshing, is that the viewer does not know how far the story will go. By not using the typical clichés of the genre, it creates a genuine expectation. In conclusion, it is a film that takes its time to develop its plot, but believable performances, excellent camera work, a script with credible and intelligent dialogue, turn The Vast of Night into a small Sci-Fi gem. We eagerly await the next movie of Patterson. Surely will be with a bigger budget, only made for $700,000.

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