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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 249 Reviews 67% 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
James Profetto Reel James (YouTube) Jul 4
8/10
Yeah, I'm not going to forget about this sci-fi movie anytime soon. 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 07/12/2025
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
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Audience Reviews

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Jack O @RT81003539 Jul 5 Loved this! Great idea - and it's got that spooky atmosphere. The two leads are great - but Sierra McCormick is absolutely magnificent. She really carries the film. Ending is a little underwhelming but still pretty good. Terrific film overall. See more Kau M @KauaMiguel Jul 4 It’s cut from the same cloth as *Pontypool* when it comes to building suspense; the sense of sheer desperation might not be quite as intense, but the intrigue—keeping you on the edge of your seat, wondering what’s real and how it will all play out—makes for a far better experience. The characters have distinct personalities and work brilliantly as a team. What a movie, folks—the immersion is incredible! See more Mike M @XJ10Toy Jun 4 absolutely nailed the vibe of a 50's scary sci-fi movie. sound editors get points for solid audio production, helps maintain a taut storyline. cgi fans need not apply. See more Mitch S @SwagoDiego2k May 27 I think it being grounded in a realistic approach how an event like that occuring is awesome. It's not just action and larger than life stars, just normal seeming people. A lot happens with just people running around town and talking. The stories build up suspense without needing flashy over the top CGI and stupid jump scares, It builds it organically with characters, pacing and story telling. The acting was all around solid and in a short time frame I felt a connection to the characters and that the stakes actually exsisted for them. so when the ending came I felt emotion. I felt for them and their situation. For what the aftermath would be in their absence. And the crafts in the end looked more like practical effects then crappy CGI. I loved this movie and recommend to anyone who has a normal attention span. If you need non stop action to keep you engaged this is not for you. See more Noah H. @Noah85 May 24 This was absolute crap. Can’t believe how high it was rated by critics. The whole damn movie is basically a bunch of people just talking about a noise that could be caused by a UFO and we NEVER get to see the UFO until the very end. Characters talk FOREVER and they talk so fast you can’t even make out what they’re saying. What a waste of time. Do not waste your time on this. Rating: 0/10. See more Sara S @SaraSand May 11 Basically a movie about people talking in the phone about a weird noise. I have no idea how this became an award-winning movie. Absolute dogshit. 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)