"Some Thing has found us..."
One of the most hyped films in recent history finally made it's debut 10 days ago and broke box office records. If certain reviews are to believe, it has redefined the monster thriller genre, not least due to the uniqueness of filming. The entire <> mins are shot on a standard run-of-the-mill handheld digital camera à la Blair Witch. What began as a low budget, potential indie cult classic evolved into an internet phenonomenon. Largely through the encylopedia sized backstory divulged through alternative reality games, where clues are scattered online and in actual real life locations.
Much of the fuel for hype came from the fact that Cloverfield was produced by a certain JJ Abrams, one of the hottest properties in Hollywood right now. Currently well known for his TV production on hit shows like Felicity, Alias, and the epic mystery-fest that is Lost, he also has pedigree in movies as a writer on Armegeddon and Mission Impossible III. Like Lost, the entire Cloverfield project was cloaked in secrecy. The film technically didn't have a name during production, cryptically assuming a variety of fake working titles that changed fairly regularly. Casting involved making actors read from scripts not of the movie, but from random tv shows and films. Scripts were watermarked, and pages were added and changed each day on set.
Here's the premise. On the eve of his departure for a new job in Japan, Rob (Michael Stahl-David) is thrown a surprise going-away party. Things take an unexpected turn when an apperant earthquake hits. The crowd watch news reports of an earthquake, then rush to the roof to assess the damage. A fireball explodes on the distant horizon and flaming debree begins to rain down on the roof. Confusion gives way to panic as the partygoers stumble through the blackout and into the streets. Amid the human screams and one inhuman roar, Rob and his friends and plonked right in the middle of a nightmare situation. Through the eyes of Hud (TJ Miller) we follow Rob and his crew as they embark on their nightmare rescue mission.
The decision to use actors who were all complete unknowns was a great one. It adds to the hyper-realism of the film and helps you forget that this is a movie and not a home video. Cloverfield is extremely clever in what you see and what you don't see and everything important is shown clearly without wrecking the sense that this is amatuer footage. And it's not just non-stop action. The makers do well to intertwine monsterous events with the home video the Hud accidently records over. Not only a novel way of revealing character backstory, it also allows for breathers from the action, which is frenetic at times to say the least. The set pieces are superb, in particular, a scene in the subway tunnel is absolutely incredible and stands out as pure action movie gold.
Cloverfield is certainly unique. Something that needs to be classed as an experience rather than simply a monster movie. The use of a handycam is an absolute stroke of genius, putting you right in the heart of the action. Although the constant shaking can be a little disconcerting, if you make it through the first 30 or so minutes without puking up you'll be alright. Another thing I loved was that interaction with the monster is not fleeting. We're given full on views more than once in the film. Add to the fact that Cloverfield clocks in at less than an hour and a half shows that the film is self-aware; it knows it's an action film not an Oscar hopefull. A super fun roller coaster ride, not a self-indulgent bum-number. This is an instant classic which leaves the door open for a potential sequel. I can't wait.
8/10
Cloverfield is released Friday 1 February 2008 in the UK
