In the wake of Stranger Things there's been a wave of 80's retro Spielberg/Stephen King/X-Files styled faux-nostalgia pieces. The problem with most of these is that they don't have any ideas of their own, they're just cashing in on a trend. But Midnight Special is not a part of this wave. It came out right before Stranger Things, back when it was still cool to tell your own story on your own premises with your own ideas, with the retro flare as one stylistic element out of many. It's understated and ambiguous. I love to watch Bill Camp lurking.

This taut 70s thriller is a masterclass in building tension, the ticking clock, amping the stakes. It's also a story full of small things, memorable details and quirky characterization, which makes it a rich ensemble piece. Like the telephone bickering between hijacker Robert Shaw and negotiator Walter Matthau - often imitated but never equalled. But the best part comes when the main story's over, we've left the subway and the dust has settled and... Those very last moments. Matthau's face.