The Vast of Night, is set in the era of fifties TV Sci-fi, and pays its homage to The Twilight Zone ( here called Paradox Theater ). Its High School, small town location does however manage to escape those cliches and influences, even as it honours them. Its a debut feature film by writer/director Andrew Patterson. So it takes every opportunity to show off a more contemporary film sensibility and technique, with some lengthy and bravura extended shots., following its main characters at road level seamlessly, Fay and Everett are just chatting, one minute about reporting the high school basketball game, they leave, then walk out into the streets, their brilliantly written conversation shifting its tone from badgering,fun and flirty, to wind up, confrontational, inquisitive and back. There are also static shots, a tensely written ten minute sequence of Fay working at the telephone exchange. Taking calls and connecting with friends trying to ascertain if anyone else has heard or knows what that strange sound she heard over the radio is. Its gripping to watch.
Some type of UFO incident is happening. People phone in or they go to interview them and each has a story to relate. Some have never been believed before, and even Fay and Everett remain suspicious and wary of being taken in. These folk are so obviously damaged goods. If you are expecting some big CGI effects of aliens and spaceship, think again. This is low-fi film making, done on a tight budget. In many ways its a quiet, unassuming, humbly subdued and subtle movie about a big event happening in a small ordinary American town. I was, however, deeply impressed with it. Recommended
CARROT REVIEW - 7/8
No comments:
Post a Comment