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The Vast of Night

Play trailer 2:04 Poster for The Vast of Night PG-13 2020 1h 30m Fantasy Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 248 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 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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The Vast of Night

The Vast of Night

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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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Critics Reviews

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Robert Levin Newsday 02/05/2021
3.5/4
"The Vast of Night" is an entertaining sci-fi nostalgia piece that's made with an unusually high level of technical flair. Go to Full Review
Nick Schager The Daily Beast 02/02/2021
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. Go to Full Review
Adam Nayman The Ringer 01/27/2021
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... Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Jul 28
4/5
...The Vast of Night is a low-budget but easily accessible sci-fi drama that keeps the scale small, but also has enough razzle-dazzle in the presentation to mark it as a must-watch for genre fans... Go to Full Review
Julian Singleton Cinapse Jul 12
It’s a sci-fi story electrifyingly told, one that seeks unexpected and innovative ways of sparking a wonder in its audience that may have grown dormant after exposure to endless big-budget franchises. Go to Full Review
Bianca Garner Filmotomy 10/03/2024
The Vast of Night is a film that you should definitely seek out. It has a great aesthetic, a wonderfully haunting score, a compelling narrative and strong performances. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Par H @Parhwy Mar 9 The Vast of Night (2020) is a 92-minute-long film I watched on Prime in March 2026. I love this film so much and yet I have only watched it three times now ("only" three?! you ask? Ha! Indeed: I have watched other films 50+ times… looking at you, The Martian). Why, Paul, why? It’s cars and costumes, Fay and Everett ambling seemingly aimlessly - with confidence and enthusiasm - from basketball game to radio station. Fay's homely sincerity is so enjoyable, Everett's mentor / big bro also endearing. The camera eye going from basketball to the exchange and to the radio station. Billy’s story. The long scenes. The meta television scenes, reminding you it’s ‘just’ a Rod Serling homage with a sprinkling of American Graffiti (in my humble opinion). It’s a film for the "I want to believe" crowd who enjoy the original Twilight Zone (I am old enough to have seen it on repeat in the 80s). I only yawn at Mabel’s story, due to its duration, and the black screens. 9/10. Rewatch? Yes! Recommend? Yes! See more Ron H @Ronhonn Jan 10 I’ve not seen mention of all the ADORABLE sci-fi nerd Easter eggs hidden throughout this film! Here are the ones I spotted, perhaps there are more: "Paradox Theatre"—including the spot-on Rod Serling Impersonation—opens on a shot of the town sign: "Cayuga, New Mexico." Cayuga Productions was the name of Rod Serling’s production company for The Twilight Zone. A company referred to in passing as "Santa Mira Mills", I believe? Santa Mira was the fictional town in the 1950’s film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers ". The radio station in town features a call sign that makes no sense…radio stations call signs west of the Mississippi start with a letter K. But a New Mexico radio station called "WOTW", while technically incorrect, COULD be the initials of—wait for it—War of the Worlds. I think this film is the coolest, quirkiest, classiest sci-fi film in decades. At least since the ‘50’s. :) If you spot any more, be sure to post! See more chad D. @Chaddie Dec 22 This was a very well put together movie, full of nostalgia and focused on building the two main characters, only 4 stars because character building rambled a bit See more Dustin W @RT85985013 Nov 29 Masterful pacing, doesn't rely on over-orchestration to supply feeling. Well written for it's setting. I will always love this movie. See more Leaburn O @RT35452347 Nov 5 The acting was on point from early in, as is the dialogue which is reassuring as there’s not much else here. Starts intriguing but falls away to disappointment as you realise we’re on a road to nowhere. Has its merit but slightly underwhelming in the end. Watched on Amazon Prime. See more Kramer A @RT07754769 Nov 4 If you grade it on a curve based on the budget, then it’s 5 stars. It looks really nice. The entire movie is dialogue between 2 characters plus a couple monologues. Might have made a great podcast. See more Read all reviews
The Vast of Night

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1950s, two kids search for the source of a mysterious frequency that has descended on their town.
Director
Andrew Patterson
Producer
Adam Dietrich, Melissa Kirkendall, James Montague
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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