Amazon Prime Video joined the world of producing original content like other streaming services and they might’ve put out the best modern sci-fi movie that nobody knows about. Since the film hit the streaming platform during the COVID-19 pandemic, it kind of flew under the radar.
Everyone was stuck inside with so much time on their hands and so many options to watch that plenty of great movies were overlooked. That’s the case with this special film from Prime Video, as The Vast of Night deserves to be considered a modern sci-fi masterpiece.
The Vast Of Night Is An Incredible Sci-Fi Movie
It Tells A Masterful Alien Story
Released in 2020 (but originally debuting at Slamdance Film Festival in 2019), The Vast of Night is a unique sci-fi experience. The great Prime Original movie is set in a small New Mexico town in the ’50s and is loosely based on the Foss Lake disappearances and the Kecksburg UFO incident.
The Vast of Night tells the story of a switchboard operator and a radio DJ who discover an audio frequency that is linked to extraterrestrial activity. The two then engage with various people around town as they attempt to find out the truth.
While alien invasion movies aren’t anything new in the sci-fi genre, the way The Vast of Night handles them is what makes it special. The aliens themselves aren’t the focal point as it’s more about the mystery of it all. It’s also not an action flick, meaning that mystery aspect takes center stage.
The small town location is also utilized well, giving the film a more intimate vibe than if it had taken place in a typical big city.
The setting also plays a major part. Having the film take place in the ’50s means that modern technology isn’t available to the characters to help them. The small town location is also utilized well, giving the film a more intimate vibe than if it had taken place in a typical big city.
It’s The Highlight Of A Great Film
While the premise is intriguing, the characters are people you enjoy following, and the setting is mysterious, there’s one moment in The Vast of Night that stands above the rest. It is a breathtaking tracking shot that is one of the most impressive in cinematic history, which is saying something.
Tracking shots are nothing new but to do one on this scale in a movie without a budget in the neighborhood of $100 million or more is remarkable. The scene in question starts with Fay (Sierra McCormick) standing in a doorway before it expands into something stunning.
Director Andrew Patterson’s tracking shot races down about a half-mile of the town, takes a left through a parking lot, goes into a gymnasium and through an ongoing basketball game, up the bleachers, and out through the other side. It’s the kind of thing that makes the movie special and makes Patterson a director to watch.
The Vast Of Night’s Director’s Next Movie Sounds Great
His Next Film Is Already Being Well Received
As mentioned, that tracking shot is one of the many reasons why Andrew Patterson is a filmmaker on the rise. It took a few years but his next project is finally on the horizon and actually had a premiere in March 2025 at SXSW.
Titled The Rivals of Amziah King, Patterson’s next film is clearly one with a bigger budget and more star power. Matthew McConaughey and Keri Russell lead a talented cast in a crime thriller about a girl reuniting with an old foster parent who takes her on as a mentor.
Early reviews from SXSW were sparkling with the film currently sitting at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. When you add in that The Vast of Night is at 92% on RT, you can tell that Patterson is a talented filmmaker. That modern sci-fi masterpiece is a must-see for fans of the genre.
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