The Vast of Night

The cinematic experience begins with a nod to the iconic "Twilight Zone" series, as the fictional anthology program "Paradox Theater" sets the stage for an eerie and suspenseful tale. The scene unfolds in 1950s Cayuga, New Mexico, where the local high school is preparing for an evening basketball game, its players energized by the promise of competition. Meanwhile, radio DJ Everett Sloan (Jake Horowitz), with his smooth voice and charismatic presence, is summoned to address a mysterious issue lurking beneath the bleachers. As he arrives on the scene, he's informed that they were actually seeking Emmett, leading him to wonder what secrets lie hidden beneath the surface.

As Everett embarks on his investigation, he's accompanied by Fay Crocker (Sierra McCormick), the switchboard operator with a voice as smooth as silk. Together, they rehearse their radio play, fine-tuning their harmonious banter and witty repartee. Their chemistry is undeniable, as they effortlessly weave together tales of science experiments and other fascinating anecdotes. With their broadcast duties fulfilled, they part ways, each returning to their respective stations.

Fay takes her place at the switchboard, where she expertly handles a flurry of incoming calls while spinning a selection of tunes that perfectly complement the evening's atmosphere. Just as Everett launches into his own broadcast, Fay is suddenly bombarded by a distorted and static-filled noise emanating from the radio waves. Her curiosity piqued, she takes another call from a panicked listener who claims to have spotted a massive, tornado-like figure hovering above her property near the canyon. The same frequency continues to interrupt their conversation, leaving Fay perplexed.

Seeking answers, she reaches out to a few trusted acquaintances, only to be abruptly disconnected. Undeterred, she decides to interrupt Everett's broadcast, calling on him for assistance in deciphering the strange phenomenon. He obliges, sharing the mysterious noise with his listeners in the hopes that someone might recognize its origin. As the night wears on and the enigmatic sounds continue to swirl, the stage is set for a thrilling adventure filled with mystery, suspense, and perhaps even the unexplained.

As Fay and Everett take a brief respite, they're interrupted by an unexpected caller, Billy (Bruce Davis), whose tale of military misadventure sparks a chain reaction of curiosity. Billy recounts his harrowing experience in the desert, where he and fellow soldiers stumbled upon a mysterious, massive structure shrouded in secrecy. The eerie silence was broken only by the faint hum of unknown forces on their radio frequencies. As Billy's story unfolds, it becomes clear that this was no ordinary military operation - the presence of an otherworldly entity had left its mark on the soldiers. But what really sets Billy's tale ablaze is his conviction that the military deliberately chose African American and Mexican personnel for this top-secret project, knowing they'd be less likely to receive attention or sympathy. The reason? No one would listen to their cries for help.

Billy's words are cut short as he's abruptly disconnected from the airwaves. But not before he drops a bombshell: he's received cryptic signal tapes from an unknown source at Walker Base, featuring the same unsettling noise that still haunts his dreams. And then there's the small matter of a mysterious tape recorder donated to the local library by the widow of one of Billy's former comrades - a man now deceased. Fay senses an opportunity and convinces Everett to commandeer a stolen vehicle, leading them to the library where they procure the tapes. As they frantically try to contact Billy again, the line goes dead once more.

Everett decides to play the mystery noise on his radio show, but just as he's about to reveal the recording, the studio lights flicker out, plunging them into darkness. Fay's panic turns to desperation as she hurtles back toward the switchboard, only to be rescued by Everett's reassuring presence in the driver's seat. As they arrive at the library, a deluge of frantic callers floods their airwaves, all claiming to witness a celestial spectacle unfolding above. Amidst this chaos, a mysterious woman named Mabel Blanche (Gail Cronauer) manages to pierce the din with her own tantalizing tale, hinting at a world beyond our wildest imagination...

As Fay and Everett arrive at Mabel's abode, she embarks on a journey through her troubled past, regaling them with tales of her long-lost son Hollis. The eerie phrase he uttered at just ten months old - a haunting refrain that echoed the mysterious forces she would later experience - still sends shivers down her spine. The disappearance of this tender tot at the age of four, Mabel believes, was no mere coincidence; rather, it was orchestrated by some otherworldly entity. Her theory is simple: whatever lurks in the celestial expanse has a penchant for snatching unsuspecting souls from beneath the nose of the unsuspecting masses.

As Fay and Everett prepare to take their leave, Mabel implores them to ferry her back to the ship, convinced that it holds the key to reuniting her with the missing Hollis. Alas, they decline, opting instead to prioritize their own lives. Meanwhile, Fay's maternal instincts kick in as she remembers to check on her baby sister Maddy and their cousin Ethel (Brianna Beasley). A quick scan reveals that Maddy is safe but Ethel has vanished into thin air - a development that sends the sisters scrambling back home.

In the midst of this chaos, Everett swings by to collect Fay and Maddy, only to be met with the unsettling news that Ethel has decamped with her beau. The couple's plan: to investigate the strange phenomenon plaguing their skies. As they set off into the great unknown, they're joined by a pair of eccentric travelers - Bertsie (Cheyenne Barton) and Gerald (Mark Banik). Their vehicle becomes a mobile recording studio as they play back Mabel's cryptic monologue in an attempt to grasp the true nature of this celestial enigma.

However, their expedition quickly takes a turn for the worse when Gerald's dozing off at the wheel sends them careening toward disaster. The kids make a break for it, fleeing the vehicle and seeking solace in the nearby woods. As they regroup, Everett provides Fay with some much-needed comfort, his reassuring presence serving as a bulwark against the unknown.

Their trek through the woods yields an unsettling discovery: the very trees and earth beneath their feet have been scarred by some unseen force. The air is filled with a faint humming noise before a colossal UFO materializes on the horizon. Despite Fay's frantic warnings, Everett becomes increasingly enthralled by the spectacle, his curiosity getting the better of him as he inches closer to the craft.

As they gaze up at this gargantuan marvel in awe and trepidation, the wind begins to howl around them, threatening to sweep them away like leaves on an autumn breeze. And yet, just as suddenly, the phenomenon subsides, leaving only the faintest hint of its presence behind.

The game may be over, but the mystery remains - a tantalizing enigma that continues to haunt our protagonists as they make their way back to the radio station. As the lights flicker back to life, the silence is broken by a lone tape recorder lying amidst the dust and debris, a poignant reminder of the strange occurrences that have transpired in this small town.