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The Vast of Night
2019 91 min United States of America PG-13 12+
★7.2
Drama, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Director: Andrew Patterson
Trailers
Description
At the dawn of the space-race, two radio-obsessed teens discover a strange frequency over the airwaves in what becomes the most important night of their lives and in the history of their small town.
Starring
Sierra McCormick
Actor
Jake Horowitz
Actor
Gail Cronauer
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2021
— Best Film on a Streaming Service
Key opinion
The Vast of Night is a meticulously crafted, low-budget homage to 1950s science fiction and radio-era storytelling that prioritizes atmospheric tension over traditional action. While praised for its technical ambition and immersive period detail, the film's reliance on dense, rapid-fire dialogue and a slow-burn pace divides audiences between those who find it hypnotic and those who find it detached.
| Originality | The film succeeds as an immersive homage to 1950s science fiction, effectively channeling the dread of the Cold War era and the spirit of The Twilight Zone. | |
| Direction | Andrew Patterson’s technical direction, specifically the use of seamless long takes and complex tracking shots, creates a highly atmospheric experience on a modest budget. | |
| Score | The film’s focus on sound design and rapid-fire dialogue successfully prioritizes psychological tension and imagination over conventional CGI-driven spectacle. | |
| Acting | The acting by leads Sierra McCormick and Jake Horowitz is widely recognized as anchoring the film's dialogue-heavy scenes with authenticity and period-appropriate charm. | |
| Pacing | The film's deliberate, dialogue-intensive pacing rewards viewers who enjoy contemplative storytelling, while others find the slow tempo and static structure boring or exclusionary. | |
| Ending | While many admire the film's creative execution, some viewers feel the screenplay ultimately lacks a truly original narrative payoff, concluding in a way that feels stereotypical. |