Review: Cloverfield (2008)

When I heard about a trailer being released for 10 Cloverfield Lane, I got all excited and then when I tried to recall the plot of the original, Cloverfield, I came to the sad realisation that I never actually watched it. I think once a movie has been on your mental ‘watch list’ for 8 years, that’s when the long term memory workers decide it’s time to throw it away. If you don’t understand that reference, go and watch Inside Out already!  I had completely forgotten about this film until I heard rumours about the sequel but I do remember that I enjoyed it when I did!

Anyway, after trying to get into too many heavy Oscar contenders I decided this would be the perfect break. Cloverfield is a found-footage action/horror that follows a group of friends in New York City as they try to escape a devastating monster attack and rescue their friend who is stuck in Midtown.

All I looked up before watching this was that very straight to the point plot summary, and so I must have been about 20 minutes in when I got very close to taking the DVD out of the player and checking it. See, the movie starts with the friends all together at a leaving party for Rob (Michael Stahl-David) but it really drags, to the point where I honestly thought I was watching the wrong movie. If I remember right its all very shaky camera work as its supposed to be a home movie but it gave me a stinking headache!

Not long after that though there’s what seems like an earthquake, the lights all go out, and then I know for sure I’m watching the right movie. Every moment from here has me on the edge of my seat! Found footage movies take a lot of stick I think, but I’m on the fence. I think it worked amazingly well here, we didn’t see much of the monster at all which adds to the suspense, it does give me a nasty case of motion sickness! I was okay with Cloverfield because it’s quite short and I watched it at home, but in the cinema I might have struggled.  Honestly, for me this achieved what I think Godzilla was trying to achieve a few years back, the suspense of what is happening rather than the fear of the actual monster, for me this did that, Godzilla didn't!

The funny thing is, I mentioned this movie to my Grampy who wasn’t very fond of it at all! Although, to an extent I couldn’t argue with his complaints. He said that not much really happened. Well, I suppose the whole movie’s plot is one escape/rescue attempt, but I think the suspense alone makes this a great movie to watch. There was a moment when the gang rounded a corner to find themselves face to face with the military that made me jump a mile, and the helicopter scene where the military were bombing the monster from the sky actually made me do a little scream!

It’s all got me very excited for 10 Cloverfield Lane. Plus, the trailer gives nothing away at all, which is even better! I’m still wondering whether it’ll be a follow up from the events of Cloverfield or another side of the same story. I think I’d be happy with either!  Should be good and they've waited long enough that just the idea of a sequel is a surprise...