Prime Video revives the spirit of the 1950s with The Vast of Night, a science fiction film that combines the nostalgia of Stranger Things with the tension of Close Encounters. Set in New Mexico, it follows two young people who pick up a mysterious audio frequency. With a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film bets on atmosphere and sound design to generate growing paranoia.
How sound and radio build the unknown 🎛️
The film uses everyday 1950s technology, such as vacuum tube radios and telephone switchboards, to create a sense of threat. Director Andrew Patterson deploys long tracking shots that immerse the viewer in a desolate town. The sound design is key: the hums and static on the frequencies generate discomfort without the need for visual effects. Every everyday sound transforms into a possible extraterrestrial message, maintaining constant tension.
The alien doesn't come, but the neighbor calls the police 📞
The best part of The Vast of Night is that it makes you fear a radio frequency more than a monster with tentacles. The protagonists spend the film listening to static while locals call the police to complain about the noise. If you ever thought your neighbor with the sound system was annoying, wait until they pick up an interstellar signal. In the end, the paranoia is so contagious that even the microwave will seem suspicious.