MIDNIGHT SPECIAL As A Superman Origin Story

The spring of 2016 saw the release of the latest Jeff Nichols film, Midnight Special, starring Nichols regular Michael Shannon. Shannon plays a father that abducts his biological son with the assistance of his friend, Lucas (Joel Edgerton). While the film draws on recurring themes from Nichols’ past work, what makes this stand out from the others is that Shannon’s son, Alton (Jaeden Lieberher), possesses extraordinary abilities. In other films or mediums such as comic books, these abilities would be interpreted as super powers.

Nichols’ other efforts, such as Mud or Take Shelter, are grounded in reality, surrounded by blue collared/working-class characters in the South or Midwest. These characters inhabit the world of Midnight Special, but with the super power-possessed Alton. Which raises the question, how would regular people react if a young real life Superman appeared?

Superman Dynamics

Before delving into the dynamics of this film, it is imperative to analyze the source of where the story draws from. The Superman origin story is well-known to comic book readers and movie fans; even non-fans have passable knowledge of how Superman came to be. However, the reaction to this super-being, to my recollection, comes across as either blase or overly enthusiastic.

When Superman flies through the sky, shoots lasers from his eyes, or freezes bad guys with his breath, people cheer. They are not frightened or shocked that a man (well, an alien that looks and speaks like a Caucasian male from Kansas) is able to do all of this. They accept him for what he is, and continue on with their lives.

In the Richard Donner Superman film, the opening chronicles Clark Kent’s (Kal-el) exodus from Krypton to his upbringing on Earth. He demonstrates to his Earth parents his superhuman strength, and as he grows older his super speed, to family and friends. They are not scared or seem too shocked by it. They just react to these exercises of super power with a “oh wow, Clark runs real fast” (as if he is Forrest Gump) or “he must drink a lot of milk” (I made that up, but you see the point). As we see with Alton’s gifts, the reactions he receives are the antithesis of Superman.

Grounded Superman Origin

Midnight Special offers three different reactions to this grounded juvenile superhero: fear, reverence, and concern. Michael Shannon gives us concern as a father that only wants to protect his son. He kidnaps him from the home in which he resides, and goes on the run with the assistance of his friend. Alton’s previous residence rests with the group that holds him in reverence.

Alton is under the care of a cult led by Sam Shepard. The cult sees the boy as a being that will save them from the evils of the world, and his unexplained powers elevate him to a godlike status. If it hasn’t been done, I hope writers at DC comics make a story-line with a Superman cult. This sudden appearance of a child with powers would make at least one segment of the population deem him a Christlike figure to save us, or alternatively, an evil to kill us.

Father and son on the run, and the cult wants their messiah brought back safely; the US Government feels otherwise. An agent, played by Adam Driver, is a man of science, and wants to know the reason why Alton has such abilities. Like copious government agents found in movies and TV, they see the boy as a threat. They fear that he is different, and that a being born with abnormal abilities cannot be trusted.

Though not Superman, X-Men comics feature characters with superpowers, but keep elements grounded in realistic situations that mirrors the world outside the comics. This sense of realism takes the form of Washington lawmakers viewing mutants as threats to humanity, setting up conversion programs or a mutant registration act. These are actions that parallel real-life fringe groups that make homosexual conversion therapy, or in the case of government, Trump’s travel ban on Muslim countries. Whereas the mysterious being Superman nonchalantly addresses the UN in Superman IV or his bromance with Ronald Reagan in the graphic novel Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. If Superman resided in the world of Jeff Nichols, he would face more persecution.

Playing with Established Forms

For his Superman origin story, and with previous films, Nichols will use already established forms, and make them his own. Whatever the source, he applies them to his Southern/Middle America working-class people. In Mud, he sets it in his native Arkansas, and uses the Mark Twain technique of “local color” and “local dialects”. Local dialects refers to how characters from a particular region talk, and color refers to parts of the location (local businesses, customs, fashions, etc.) that bring the place to life. It makes the location itself a character, as Twain would use in his works.

For Midnight Special, Nichols also uses Steven Spielberg for form. Spielberg uses a recurring theme of absent or distant fathers in his work (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Hook for example). Shannon’s character is separated by Alton, and kidnaps him to keep him safe, though their interactions are a bit awkward at best.  Midnight Special also borrows elements from past Spielberg efforts, in particular E.T. The government comes after an “alien” being and chases it, as both films demonstrate. During the chase, each said alien uses their power to escape from the agents, while the agents are dumbfounded by this flash of otherworldly ability and fail at capturing their subject.

Much like E.T., there is a parallel world/different planet where Alton would be accepted for his otherworldly powers. As the UFO brought E.T. back home, these beings come to rescue Alton from the agents on his trail.  Midnight Special even includes a heartfelt goodbye between Alton and his father, as with E.T. and Elliot.

Closing Thoughts

In a real life situation, people would be afraid of Superman. A guy that is unusually strong, can shoot lasers from his eyes, and possess other amazing abilities would terrify the average person. They may see these powers as weapons of mass destruction. At least, the government would think of these powers as WMDs.

Agents on his trail and cults/population segments worshiping a false prophet would be the exact response of people, average people, encountering a real-life Superman in the making. With the setting in a Nichols cinematic world, the filmmaker brings an accurate reaction to what we read in copious unrealistic comic book and filmed portrayals of superheroes.

Is Alton a Superman in the making? How would you respond to a man or woman with superhuman abilities? Please comment below.