The Vast of Night

PG-13

Released May 15, 2020

1h 30m

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

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92%

Tomatometer

248 Reviews

66%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

In the 1950s, two kids search for the source of a mysterious frequency that has descended on their town.

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Critics Consensus

An engrossing sci-fi thriller that transcends its period trappings, The Vast of Night suggests great things for debuting director Andrew Patterson.

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Robert Levin

Newsday

"The Vast of Night" is an entertaining sci-fi nostalgia piece that's made with an unusually high level of technical flair.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 5, 2021

Full Review

Nick Schager

The Daily Beast

A low-fi genre gem that proves the age-old maxim that less is often more-especially when such minimalism is wielded by gifted artists.

Feb 2, 2021

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

The technical proficiency of Patterson's debut is off the charts, and it'll be interesting to see if and how this gifted filmmaker manages to maintain his independence...

Jan 27, 2021

Full Review

Jennifer Bisset

CNET

This low-budget indie has surprisingly high production values, impressive performances and inventive camerawork to help tell the story...

Mar 21, 2023

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Alison Gillmor

Winnipeg Free Press

The Vast of Night is about what humans do in the face of mystery. It’s about why we question and search.

Feb 27, 2023

Full Review

M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

The Vast of Night is intelligent, well-made, and completely satisfying storytelling. Director Andrew Patterson’s film is nothing short of a scintillating debut.

Rated: 4.5/5

Sep 1, 2022

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George D

The historical accuracy was good. Small town basketball game for example, and the vintage cars. But for some reason, the director decided he wanted the main characters to run their words together and over one another, which made the dialogue ridiculously hard to hear. The ending was fine, a little Blair-witchy. Some potential which was not reached, unfortunately.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/14/24

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Samitha B

Utterly boring, and pointless movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/10/24

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Philip M

I don't often enjoy low budget science fiction,but The Vast Of Night was a truly pleasant diversion. The movie was cleverly scripted and had a limited cast who did a fine job of making the viewer connect with the characters. The direction was good and the pacing was excellent. Overall,an entertaining movie, well worth the watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/24

Full Review

Lani K

Sierra McCormick is a powerhouse in the switchboard scene. From 20:21 to 30:45 she is the only person on screen. For 10 minutes she is the only person you see without any edits or cuts or second or third cameras giving other perspectives. One person. One camera. One scene. And she slays it. Unfortunately, this movie went nowhere new very very slowly. Every old crest was fallen. All the built up energy has been dissipated for decades. The climax happens off camera and we are left to bask in its afterglow while it hobbles out of the building on its cickety clickety cane and orthopaedic shoes. Otherwise, the nostalgic imagery of a 1950’s pristine town in New Mexico, with green grass, forests, and oddly, scrubby desert scapes side by side is supremely pulled off. It is a TV episode, isn’t it? We are supposed to suspend reality. The drone operator has mad skills.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/03/24

Full Review

Rob D

A still born piece of cinema if there ever was one. I'm surprised many so called professional reviewers praised this mediocre s-f piece. I suspect quite a few comped gift cards shipped out from Amazon Studios before its premiere, to show much appreciation to the "reviewers".

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

Full Review

Joanne M

A little of a slow start but then got absorbed into the plot. Something simple, but enjoyable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/24

Full Review

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Andrew Patterson

Director

Sierra McCormick

Fay Crocker

Jake Horowitz

Everett

Gail Cronauer

Mabel Blanche

Bruce Davis

Billy

Cheyenne Barton

Bertsie

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The Vast of Night: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In the 1950s, two kids search for the source of a mysterious frequency that has descended on their town.

Director: Andrew Patterson
Producer: Marcus Ross, Erica Williams, Caleb Henry
Screenwriter: James Montague
Distributor: Amazon Studios
Production Co: GED Cinema
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 15, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 31, 2020
Runtime: 1h 30m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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