It’s hard to tell what exactly is going on in the upcoming sci-fi film Midnight Special, written and directed by Jeff Nichols. The trailer seems to be part Starman and part Firestarter as Michael Shannon seeks to protect his superpowered son, played by Jaeden Lieberher (St. Vincent). New images from the film give us a closer look at the characters but also raise a few more questions as to what’s really going on.

We can infer from the trailer that Adam Driver is likely the antagonist of the film as his dialogue pretty much spells out his distrust of boy, as well as his theory that the child is a weapon. At some point in the film, Lieberher’s character is captured and tested by Driver, which leads to this interesting still. Do his powers play with electrical systems, our perception, or the fabric of reality itself?

The photos also have both Shannon and Dunst in bulletproof vests, which can mean one of a few things. Either they are also captured at some point and issued body armor or there is something more sinister going on and the two people you would assume would be out to protect the boy are actually up to something else entirely. The official synopsis of the film paints the picture of it being father and son against the world, and mentions Shannon “risking everything” to protect his son. Seeing Michael Shannon as a selfless paternal figure isn’t something we often experience, but we’re sure it’ll be executed beautifully.

Take a look at the gallery below and let us know what insights you glean from the new stills in the comments!

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HT: Collider
Images: Warner Bros. Pictures