Real estate developer Hillary (Alicia Josipovic) is sent to the small town of Midnight Clear to buy the struggling town for her father’s real estate business. The reception she receives is anything but welcoming and she butts heads with Pastor Daniel (Jon McLaren), who is trying to raise money for the restoration of the town’s run-down church. As Hilary wrestles with her loyalty to her father and the empathy she feels towards the people of Midnight Clear, she starts to wonder if saving the community is what she should be focusing on, rather than buying the people off to start their lives elsewhere.
‘Christmas in Midnight Clear’ has a very familiar story and it’s an entertaining rehash of the ‘fish out of water’ trope that is prevalent in so many of these made for TV Christmas movies. The familiarity of the story isn’t a problem though as ‘Christmas in Midnight Clear’ hits all the right notes and benefits from a solid script that’s elevated by its cast. Great American Family always strives to combine traditional storytelling with faith-based stories, and writer Riley Weston does a great job of that here. Yes, there’s a love story at the centre of the film which is predictable but there’s also an exploration of faith that you don’t see all too often these days.
Hillary arrives in Midnight Clear determined to achieve her goal but over the course of the film, she starts to show her human side as she gets to know the community. When she arrives she believes that what she is doing is for the benefit of the town but she soon realises that forcing people out of their homes would do the exact opposite. Her fiery interaction with Pastor Daniel serves as the catalyst for her to rethink what she’s doing, and her attraction to him is immediate. Some of the film’s strongest scenes are the discussions that Daniel and Hillary have around faith. For Daniel, it’s something he’s devoted his life to but for Hillary, it’s something that she’s never really considered to be suited to her. Their conversations are important and they raise a timely question about the decline of faith across the world.
Aside from the religious threads of the story, viewers will enjoy the budding romance between Hillary and Daniel. As with all of these kinds of movies, you know where the story will end but the fun is seeing how the characters get there. It’s not a smooth path but watching Hillary evolve over the film’s near 90-minute run-time is very enjoyable. You see her exterior start to soften as she becomes embedded in a community that she knew very little about when she first arrived. Her interactions with the people of Midnight Clear change her path and there’s a strong message here about the importance of community.
Alicia Josipovic and Jon McLaren are excellent as the leads Hillary and Pastor Daniel. Their chemistry on-screen is immediate and I believed them as two people brought together by fate. Josipovic is the most impressive as she has to sell the idea that her character completely transforms over the course of the film, but McLaren gives an earnest and charismatic performance as Pastor Daniel. Both actors are very warm and their presence really lights up the screen.
‘Christmas in Midnight Clear’ may not break new ground but it asks some important questions, and it makes you think. Honestly, this might be one of my favourite Great American Christmas films so far. It is full of heart, a compelling watch and delivers a satisfying conclusion. As the weather gets colder and the Christmas decorations start to go up, what more could you want than a film as comforting and cosy as this one?
Cast: Alicia Josipovic, Jon McLaren, Logan Tomanek, Samantha Kendrick, Michael Strickland Director: Nicholas Humphries Writer: Riley Weston Certificate: Unrated Duration: 88 mins Released by: Great American Media Release date: 8th November 2025
‘Christmas in Midnight Clear’ is streaming exclusively on Great American Pure Flix from 6th November 2025. It premieres on Great American Family and GFAM+ on 8th November 2025 at 8pm ET.
