Cloverfield Review

Director: Matt Reeves (Felicity, the upcoming Let Me In)
Screenplay: Drew Goddard (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, LOST)
Producer: J.J. Abrams (Alias, LOST, Fringe, Star Trek (2009)).4
Starring: Michael Stahl-David, T.J. Miller, Jessica Lucas, and Odette Yustman
Gross Revenue: $170,764,026 worldwide
Rotten Tomatoes Tomato meter: 76%
IMDB Rating: 7.4
     People often complain of unoriginality in modern cinema, and how every new movie is a "remake" or an adaption of another material.  People refute the quality of modern film making and just seem disappointed with every new release.  Well, Cloverfield is a purely original film.  Taking a new and modern approach to a familiar concept, it relaunches the monster movie genre in exciting new ways.
     Cloverfield is a monster movie with a unique twist; it is told entirely from a hand-held camera.  No professional camera moves here, it is shot as if one of the main characters was shooting it.  I don't want to give too much away, because I believe in being surprised when watching a film for the first time. (Or even the second or third re-viewing).  Basically, a group of college-age kids are attending a party, when a giant monster attacks New York City.  One of the party-attenders, who was video taping the party, decides to record their venture as they try to survive the night.  It is a visceral and emotional thrill ride.
    What I love about this movie is how unique the camera work is.  It literally looks like one of the main characters shot it.  (In actuality, many scenes of the movie were filmed by the actors in order to generate authenticity).  This even includes mundane things, such as the camera being pointed away from the actors' faces, and the screen being crooked and sideways.  It really transports one to the center of the action, and it makes it feel as if the one is there experiencing this whole adventure.  In response to claims of  that the movie uses too much "shaky-cam" I say that it is what makes the movie work, and places it in a more modern context.
    The acting is spot-on all around.  J.J. Abrams made sure to cast only unknowns in the movie, so as to make the experience seem even more believable, which is does.  It is hard to suspend one's disbelief enough if George Clooney was the one on screen, filming the monster through his home video camera.  Unknown actors make it seem much more authentic.  They really deliver authentic and natural performances that really add to the creepy feel of the movie, and make it seem more "real."

    The movie succeeds as a horror movie.  It is not a big "in-your-face" horror movie, neither is it a gore-fest. It is much more a psychological picture, focusing on the reactions of these people then the big destruction of New York City.  Watching this group of close-knit people respond to all the death and destruction around them is quite heartbreaking and often times quite scary.  The "guerrilla film making" style also adds to to the scares by making all the creatures and destruction seem so close and personal.  It really is the modern day monster movie.
    This is a great film, loved by critics and audiences alike.  J.J. Abrams (In my opinion, the smartest man in entertainment today) really knows how to get audiences excited about a movie.  He continues to make movies that are smart, funny, original, innovate, and supremely entertaining.  His T.V. shows and movies are both incredible works of entertainment, and every new project he announces gets me very excited.
    In summary, Cloverfield is one of the best modern day horror films, and one of my favorite of all time.  It is an exciting and visceral emotional thrill ride, with a unique and exciting way of film making.  Movies like Cloverfield give me confidence in modern cinema, and make me look excited to go the movies.  9/10