The Vast of Night

• Directed by Andrew Patterson (Feature Debut)
• January 26, 2019 (Slamdance) / May 29, 2020 (US)

A young switchboard operator and her radio disc jockey friend discover a strange audio signal that could be extraterrestrial.

This is a movie that relies on atmosphere and getting your mind to do much of the work in a way like The Twilight Zone which it pays homage to in the opening as well as a few other moments with Rod Serling-esque narration and the title credits to a fictitious show named Paradox Theatre.

The Vast of Night is carried really by two main characters: radio disc jockey Everett Sloan (Jake Horowitz) out to make a good show and inquisitive switchboard operator Fay Crocker (Sierra McCormick). Nothing too spectacular about them but that’s the point. These are normal people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Strange things begin to happen around town and while they seem a little innocuous at first it becomes clear that they are anything but innocent.

Horowitz and McCormick turn in amazingly grounded performances. Their interaction is not romantic but one of friends. They have great banter with Horowitz’s Sloan (working at WOTW-a War of the Worlds reference) being a bit skeptical with McCormick’s Crocker being inquisitive on everything.

The story takes place in the fictitious Cayuga (a reference to Rod Serling’s Cayuga Productions), Texas on the night of a basketball game. It is strangeness in small-town America in a time many view as a bit bland. The ‘50s certainly were not as eventful as the ‘60s.

There are hints of a government conspiracy with the introduction of a caller who identifies himself only as ‘Billy’ (Bruce Davis). Sloan played the noise and Billy called in saying he could identify it. He tells a tale that explains what it is but not why it was heard. The narrative indicates the government knows something but is hiding the truth. And how is that done? Racism

What eventually comes across is that he is a black man and the incident he was involved in (which is very similar to what is occurring in the film) was kept quiet because the government used solely minority individuals since given the times they would not be believed. Since this takes place in the ‘50s that makes perfect sense.

You never get a real complete picture of what is all going on. Rather Andrew Patterson hands you enough to draw conclusions but nothing that can be 100% proven leaving you ultimately something to think about long after the film is over. Many writers and directors today feel all must be answered rather than just giving enough to get you to the credits. Questions are a way to hook viewers and deepen the viewer’s personal investment.

One of the best scenes (and it is carried entirely by acting) is when Sloan and Crocker go to speak to shut in Mabel Blanche (Gail Cronauer) who weaves a tail of her life and own encounter with the otherworldly that is ultimately unsettling as well as a bit tragic. Ultimately these aliens took her son and she believes they have nefarious motives.

All those involved do a fantastic job and do not treat this as a goof. The direction is absolute perfect. This is a movie that is amazing and shows that you don’t need a huge budget to make very good science fiction. You need to focus on story and direction and get the best actors you can and this has all those. This wasn’t a halfhearted effort at all.

And I must give praise for virtually no fluff in this movie. We only get enough to establish characters and scenario. They touch on all of the elements they want from the mystery to even racism without beating you over the head with it. No time is wasted, and I wish more films and the creators behind them would learn that lesson.

The Vast of Night is a fantastic piece of modern atmospheric science fiction. While not scary it is disturbing and unsettling and maintains that atmosphere from the first weird moment all the way up to the very end. This is something you should check out definitely.