Nanks’s review published on Letterboxd:
Engrossing sci-fi drama about a father and son on the run from "the government" and from the religious cult where they were raised. Their pursuers are interested in the boy, but why they're interested in him isn't clear at first. You find out gradually, which I liked. I wish the filmmaker hadn't felt it necessary to provide a full explanation for Alton's "specialness," because, unless you have a really good story, the explanation becomes a film's weakest point. Sometimes certain things are better left unsaid.
I liked the relationship among all of the protagonists -- Michael Shannon, Jaeden (such an unfortunate first name) Lieberher, Joel Edgerton, and Kirsten Dunst.
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL reminded me a lot of STARMAN. There's even a Charles Martin Smith equivalent in Adam Driver's NSA scientist.