Die Weite der Nacht

Whoever thought it was a good idea to have the main character mumble unintelligible lines past a cigarette in his mouth for the film's first 15 minutes is an idiot. I was ready to turn it off, but then read a review here that mentioned that the first 15 minutes are difficult, so I kept watching. A person could skip the first 15 minutes entirely and not lose anything except finding out that the two main characters are a DJ and the town's switchboard operator. And that there's a big basketball game that is not really related to the rest of the plot. Worth watching in a pinch, like if you just can't find anything else you feel like watching right then.

I can't remember the last time I watched a film as unique as 'The Vast of Night'. It's hard to think of a single film that I could fairly compare it to. And amazingly it worked. The film is enthralling to watch. Long close-up shots of characters simply talking on the phone should be unbearable to watch, but in 'The Vast of Night' I was captivated by them. This is partly down to some great acting, partly down to how well the dialogue is written, and partly because the mysterious story unfolding is mesmerising to watch.

This would not be an easy film to act in, because the actors aren't being given a lot to work with. Sure, they have some terrific dialogue to deliver, but they have to do so in a very confined scene throughout almost the entirety of the film, and with almost nothing else going on to divert the audience's attention. Sierra McCormick and Jake Horowitz absolutely nail their performances here. They deliver their lines at an incredibly fast pace, while still being very easy to listen to. These two have a big future ahead of them I suspect.

People are going to ask me about this film and I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to describe it to them. A description of this film could easily make it sound terrible, when in reality it is anything but. All I will say is make sure you see this film for yourself and form your own opinion. I highly recommend it.

My wife and I watched this on Amazon streaming via Roku. It is set in New Mexico but filmed digitally in Texas and Oklahoma.

It looks like the late 1950s, when I was a young teenager, and they mention Sputnik which was a 1957 event. The movie opens with an extended scene at night of local residents going to the school gym for a basketball game, just to set the mood of the time, and it all feels authentic.

But things get going when the teenage girl goes to her job as phone switchboard operator and her good friend, a slightly older guy, goes to his music and talk show at the tiny local radio station. Some electricity goes out, some phone calls get disconnected, some strange sounds are heard, coming from the skys, and recorded. All leading up to a strong belief that alien beings are in the sky.

The movie is interesting and very well made, considering it had a tight budget and a short shooting schedule. The dialog is mostly interesting and the main actors are very good in their roles. It all takes place at night on one day which adds to the mystique.

Be it War of the Worlds, Twilight Zone or The Day the Earth Stood Still, this science fiction romp through a small fictional New Mexico town pays homage to them all. A fun little romp that even tips it's cap to Close Encounters. For those that crave lots of action, look elsewhere; for those of you who like a story and will allow it to develop, you won't be disappointed. This is a small cast gem.

"The Vast of Night" was recently purchased by Netflix and so it should soon appear on the website. For now, it's playing the film festival circuit...and I saw it at the Philadelphia Film Festival. I am glad I did, as the movie really managed to produce a huge bang for very few bucks. To make up for the low budget, the movie is very dark and makes the most of creepy music and a creepy atmosphere.

The story is designed like an installment of a 1950s teleplay--a movie made for television. It opens on a television screen and soon the camera pans in and the movie begins in earnest. It is set in a tiny Texas town and stars mostly two folks, a young man and his teenage lady friend. The pair hear strange sounds at night that are unexplained...and the rest of the town never notices since nearly everyone else is at the local high school basketball game. What are the sounds and who is responsible? Watch the film!

The director is the star her as well as the folks who created the look of the picture. A must-see for young filmmakers who need to see how to make a very good film for next to nothing! In fact, a lot of big-name Hollywood filmmakers also might benefit from seeing this as well!