History Film / MidnightSpecial

* GenreThrowback: While promoting the film, the cast specifically called this a throwback to the likes of ''{{Film/ET}}'' and ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind''. There are a couple of references to the original ''Superman'' films as well. The title is a reference to this as well, the term "midnight special" usually being in reference to the kind of cult-classic sci-fi B-movies that would be played on TV late at night.

* SpiritualSuccessor: It's been suggested that the Netflix series ''Series/StrangerThings'' acts as one to this. Both are heavily inspired by 80s sci-fi movies and feature empowered children. What's more is that this deals with parents stopping the government from taking their child - while ''Stranger Things'' has parents trying to ''find'' their children.

* FourElementEnsemble: Downplayed, but every time Alton uses his powers corresponds to one of the elements. He wrecks Elden's house in an earthquake (Earth), causes a satellite to come crashing down (Air), [[spoiler: gets control of his powers by seeing the sun rise for the first time]] (Fire) and [[spoiler: rejoins his people]] while in the middle of an everglade (Water).

* IdiotBall: The soldiers at the checkpoint fail to detain a speeding vehicle which has gone off road, don't even notice Roys' gunshot wound, and even worse, that he is a highly wanted fugitive, whose mugshot has been on TV for days. After simply being told to go back to the road, Roy is not even recognized by the cop who's checking each car.

* FiveManBand: Subverted. Roy would be TheLeader, Lucas TheLancer and TheBigGuy, Sarah TheChick and Alton a TagAlongKid. [[spoiler: Paul Sevier]] offers to go with them as TheSmartGuy but he is turned down. However, once [[spoiler: Alton gets control of his powers]], he technically fills the role of TheSmartGuy.

* CIAEvilFBIGood: Zig-Zagged. The NSA agent Paul Sevier is working in conjunction with the FBI to track Alton, and while the government has shady intentions in regards to Alton, they aren't portrayed as being fully good or bad.

* RapunzelHair: Sarah and the rest of the female cult members have long hair down to their waist that they keep braided.

* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Levi and Doak, the Ranch's enforcers, who serve as the most threatening members of the Ranch and pursue the main character to gather, while occasionally discussing their personal feelings about what they're doing.

* AlienGeometries: [[spoiler:The ending, with its alien architecture.]]

* * ActorAllusion:

* TwentyThree: Sarah's mother lives at number 23.

* {{Cult}}: The Ranch, the religious compound where Roy, Sarah, and Alton used to live, which is raided by the FBI at the outset of the movie. They believe that Alton is foretelling the apocalypse and is the only one who can save them from it.

* {{Cult}}: The Ranch, the religious compound where Roy, Sarah, and Alton used to live, which is raided by the FBI at the outset of the movie.

* DiabolusExMachina: Lucas was driving without incident with the light off, and almost crash into a car (whose driver was unconscious and possibly forgot to use the parking brake, leaving her car to slide to the middle of the road). He narrowly avoids the collision, but a truck then crashes into said car. Moments later, a state trooper shows up, leading to a confrontation.

** Lucas trying to reason with a state trooper, then shooting him when he's forced to, but only in the chest, where he's supposed to have a flak jacket. Establishes him as a law-abiding citizen, reluctant to hurt anyone else, but ready to do it if needed. It later echoes when he explains that [[spoiler:his own job ''is'' also being a state trooper.]]
** Roy telling Lucas to "just shoot him", several times until he does, then looking sad. Establishes him as a PapaWolf determined to do whatever he has to for Alton, but still feeling bad about it.

* MissingMom: The other members of the ranch say that Sarah "abandoned" her son. From what she tells Lucas, it appears that Alton was taken off them to be raised by Calvin. And she eventually left the ranch because she couldn't bear to see someone else raising him.

* PlayingGertrude: There is seven years between Michael Shannon and Kirsten Dunst and their son is played by a thirteen-year-old. Dunst is given make-up to give the impression that she's playing a character who's a little older than she is.

The movie stars Creator/MichaelShannon, Creator/JoelEdgerton, Creator/KirstenDunst, Jaeden Lieberher, Creator/AdamDriver, and Creator/SamShepard. It was given a limited release beginning on March 18. Trailers can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zuQTmVCEn4 here]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UU_CC81aGM here]].

* GenreThrowback: While promoting the film, the cast specifically called this a throwback to the likes of ''{{Film/ET}}'' and ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind''. There are a couple of references to the original ''Superman'' films as well.

Alton Meyer, an 8-year-old boy with supernatural abilities, has been reported missing. In reality, his father Roy, along with his childhood friend Lucas, have taken the boy from the religious compound where he previously lived and gone on the run. Meanwhile, they are being pursued by members of the religious sect and agents of the FBI and NSA, both of whom are pursuing Alton for their own ends.

* [[spoiler:AlienGeometries: The ending, with its {{Bizarrchitecture}}.]]

* DamselOutOfDistress: As noted below, Sarah is briefly knocked out and cuffed to a shower handle. She quickly regains consciousness and frees herself.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Sarah's mother is seen answering the door to two henchmen from the ranch looking for Alton. She's never seen, nor mentioned afterwards. It's implied that she was bound with the duct tape the henchmen take with them and left behind like they did Lucas, Roy and Sarah.

* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: [[spoiler: Alton's people only appear as shapeless masses of light from Sarah's perspective]].
** Also valid for [[spoiler:their buildings made of AppliedPhlebotinum and Crystal Spires, which are never fully visible and involve some rather complex AlienGeometries]].

* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Alton is a rare male example - who is notably the only pale-skinned, dark-haired character in the film.