This underrated gem boasts an incredible cast.
Our TV movie pick for tonight (Thursday, 11 April) is Midnight Special, the 2016 sci-fi thriller road film with a starry ensemble cast.
Michael Shannon plays a man named Roy (Michael Shannon) who goes on the run with his son (Jaeden Martell) while being pursued by the government (led by Adam Driver) and a cult (led by Sam Shepherd) who are both drawn to the child’s special powers.
Written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Loving, Mud, the upcoming The Bikeriders) and co-starring Joel Edgerton and Kirsten Dunst, Midnight Special was not a hit at the box office which is a shame because it’s a nifty little genre flick that blends Spielbergian wonder and Twilight Zone-esque mystery.
Nichols wisely withholds for much of the running time what exactly the kid’s unique abilities are, making viewers genuinely intrigued as to why the child is so special.
Also, the often times scary Shannon is subtly heartbreaking cast against type as a man doing all he can to protect his son.
Midnight Special is airing on TV tonight on Sky Sci-Fi at 9pm. It is also available to stream on Sky Movies.
You can check out the trailer for the movie right here:
Here are the other movies on TV tonight:
The Eagle Has Landed – BBC Four – 8.30pm
The ’70s war flick starring Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall.
The Hangover – Comedy Central – 9pm
“You probably get this a lot. This isn’t the real Caesar’s Palace is it?”
The Equalizer / The Equalizer 2 – Film4 – 9pm / 11.40pm
A Denzel double bill.
John Wick: Chapter 2 – Sky Showcase – 9.45pm
Arguably the best of the John Wicks.
Final Destination 5 – Quest – 10pm
More young people “cheat death” but death isn’t done with them yet in this hit horror sequel.
The Silence of the Lambs – ITV4 – 10.05pm
The first and to date only horror film to win the Best Picture Oscar.
Julius Caesar – BBC Four – 10.40pm
Marlon Brando stars in this ’50s Shakespeare adaptation.
Red Rock West – Legend – 10.50pm
Nicolas Cage’s best-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes is this ’90s crime flick.
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