Cloverfield is one of those films that I expect people to be talking about for years. Of course a lot of people who will be talking about this “film event” probably won’t have even seen it, but that’s never stopped anyone before, so why would it in the future?
Since I’m currently in Hollywood, California, I took the time last night to go and see Cloverfield in the Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard (photos to follow).
Cloverfield has quite a bit in common with Blair Witch. Both films were hyped up online and both were shot using single cameras and feature lots of jerky camera movement. That’s probably where the similarity ends.
The story of Cloverfield feeds on that deepest set of American fears – invasion. In this case it’s an unexplained alien type attack on New York City, but the alien’s presence is never explained.
The film’s main characters are enjoying a party when they are interrupted by noise coming from outside. Next thing we see is the head of the Statue of Liberty landing on the ground….
One of the film’s strengths is that the “monster” or “alien” (it’s never clear what it is) remains so ambiguous. It’s a central character, but it’s not the central character. You are, in fact, left with the distinct impression that you are more afraid of the threat of this beast than the beast itself. For the first part of the attack sequence I was convinced that we wouldn’t get to see it on the screen at all, but even when we did the camera does not spend too much time on it.
Word of warning: If you are prone to nausea then the jerky style of the camerawork might not be your cup of tea
Technorati Tags: cloverfield, film review, hollywood, jj abrams, blair witch
Cloverfeild was one of the F****ing s****est films ever made dont even know how it made the cinema, went to see it yesterday sunday 3rd Feb and was mortified of how rubbish it was it wasnt even scary made no sense it was giving false reviews which were said on the radio Im wondering if these radio station were paid to give those reviews?? I’d love to get my money i wasted on going to see this movie bigest load of bull***t shame to the writter he should be saked and same for the director that actually agreed to direct this joke of a film!
Audrey
I’ve allowed your comment with edits.
Michele