Cloverfield (2008)
Written by Colin on January 28, 2008 – 10:11 am -
Here be dragons…
James and I tossed a coin for the write-up of Cloverfield and I won – or lost, I can’t remember which. The reason for my difficulty is that I don’t want to give too much away. I know - it’s been all over the internet since the teaser trailer appeared at the initial screenings of Transformers but I managed to get to the official screening armed with nothing more than scant knowledge of the plot and/or cast.
What I did know is that this was both a film and a master class in viral marketing from J. J. Abrams, creator and producer of cult series Lost and Alias, so I figured it couldn’t be all bad. If you really don’t want anything given away, stop reading now!
Still here? Good. What you probably already know is that this is essentially a movie about an attack on New York by a monster and that it was shot from the perspective of a hand-held camera as some friends trying to flee the city document their progress. As one of the characters says: “They will want to know how it all went down.” I paraphrase here a little, but I’m still trying to be cagey…
What I was not prepared for was the sheer scale of the devastation wreaked by this terrible thing from who-knows-where - the wantonness of the carnage is eye-popping. The much-lauded camera work (yes, I’m going to join the rest of the world here and mention Blair Witch) gives it an urgency I have not seen conveyed quite so successfully since – well, since forever.
The plot is simple and the opening 10–15 minutes serve to set the scene and establish who’s who. Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David) is leaving New York to work in Japan and his friends throw him a surprise leaving bash. Shortly after midnight, there’s a huge explosion somewhere in the city and all the lights in the building go out. This is where it all begins…
I’m going to wrap this up with one final thought. As love stories go – and for me this is essentially what Cloverfield is – it’ll make your heart race for all the wrong reasons. Do yourself a favour - get yourself to a cinema and see this before someone (probably James) spoils it for you.
85 mins.
Tags: Alias, cloverfield, jj abrams, lost, Michael Stahl-David, New York, slusho, The Blair Witch Project
Posted in US, action, horror, thriller |
RSS
January 28th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I must take exception to that last crack, Colin - of course I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the film for our happy readers. Anyway, since when has detailing every single good bit in a film spoilt the experience for someone who hasn’t yet watched it? Your logic just doesn’t stand up…;-)
Such attempts at humour aside, I must say that I am 100 percent in agreement with your take on this mega-monster movie. The very fact that the film itself gives next to nothing away concerning the origins of the beast and very cleverly only gradually reveals the horror (out of the corner of the viewers’ eye, if you like - not bad for a 500 foot creature of Lovecraftian proportions) only add to the overwhelming, apocalyptic sense of dread - yet the overall impression, as with all the best horror flicks, is akin to a rollercoaster ride. Top marks to all concerned - particularly to young director Matt Reeves, whose first cinema feature this is.
July 25th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
As some people may know, I am not that big a fan of horror movies, but I have to agree with both Colin and James that this is a very good movie. Even if you just watch it on DVD it is still powerful, scary and touching.
BTW, I though Lovecraft was a roguish seller of antiques who also rides around on horses and swears a lot…
July 25th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Most amusing, Ashburton…
July 25th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I also liked the fact that I couldn’t care less about all the beautiful people and their ‘Central Perk’ lifestyle. It dawned on me a short while later that it was kind of the point.
I have yet to see it on DVD, but I don’t reckon it’ll lose much for being on the small screen.
I will still say it’s one of the best love stories I’ve seen in a while.