‘They have liked this place, they always have…’
Is it possible to feel nostalgic for an era in which you never lived? Whenever I see 1950s America portrayed on the big screen, I always experience a strange yearning. It seems so wholesome and brimming with optimism. This is probably an illusion. A trick of the mind. Because so many great movies have been set during that golden age, what I’m actually feeling nostalgic for are movies from my childhood. Mainly, Back to the Future, I suppose. Whatever the reason, it is an era that is alluring. The Vast of Night is as successful in evoking the ’50s as Stranger Things is with the ’80s. It’s all there. The small town, the Ned Flanders language, the twang of old timey rock ‘n’ roll, it all just looks so… nice.
When a strange signal starts randomly broadcasting in a small town in New Mexico, switchboard operator Fay (Sierra McCormick) and radio DJ Everett (Jake Horowitz) race around town trying to find the source.
The Vast of Night presents itself as a show within a show, part of a clear Twilight Zone homage entitled Paradox Theatre. There are various other nods to Rod Sterling’s creation and other sci-fi stalwarts, but first time director Andrew Patterson ensures that his film stands out from its peers. This is partly due to a pair of enrapturing performances from his young co-stars, and partly because of how beautifully the whole thing is shot, leading to an end product that is both unique and refreshing. This is a film that revels in harking back to the past whilst still feeling unquestionably modern.
Amazon Prime has always trailed behind Netflix in terms of original content, but with this, Tales From The Loop and The Boys all impressing recently, there are signs of a fightback. The Vast of Night is a curio that won’t be for everyone, but for even casual fans of science fiction, it is essential viewing.