Just saw Cloverfield.

We call it "Humanoid" some moron friend of ours said that.



POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD:

Cloverfield - 4/5


"My name is Robert Hawkins. It is now 6:43am on May 23rd. Approximately seven hours ago something attacked the city, we don't know what. But if you found this, if you're watching this then you probably know more about it than I do."


The story revolves around a group of friends who plan a going away party for a friend named Rob, who is going to Japan on a business related trip. The party starts and the personal dilemmas fly...but soon everything is erupted by a loud unknown noise. They soon realize that there is something attacking the city and that they must simply get out and survive.

Let me simply say this: If you are someone who expects answers from films, something nicely wrapped with a bow for you, then stay away from this film. If you are expecting a monster flick, something with full on aerial shots showing you every detail of the creature, than for the most part, you might be disappointed...Cloverfield is simply a human story, from a human point of view of a devastating attack going on around them and like the real possibility of such a destruction happening, you are left wondering 'what the hell is all this'?...along with 'why' and 'how'.
I followed the film for a while in the early stages, becoming more anticipated by the teaser, reading different ideas and reports on 'what the monster will be' etc...and whether you followed anything or not, you will still get the same effect that the film offers. Shot on a HD digicam, you would expect a lot of shaky movements with no effect on the audience...everyone that thinks this is way off. I'm also glad I read the production notes before seeing this, because everything they said about doing a lot of pre-planning for every shot is true. Before the party starts (the one we all know by now that happens at the beginning), its simply Rob holding the camera in his high level apartment, looking out of the city and watching a woman lying in bed...it simply leaves you thinking 'where is this going'. The party builds simple, but very real human characters as we go through there typical dilemmas and fights and before you know it, everything hits...anything you imagined watching the teasers action is way off, to gain the full intensity of every moment to follow, you need to see this in theaters. The intensity lies within that first impression, the unexpected reality in the tone. From there its simply a ride through there point of view of the events that go on and with brisk pacing, you are kept engrossed right until the credits.

Unexpectedly, the visual effects are stunning. From the Statue of Liberty head flying down the street to the Manhattan bridge collapsing, everything fits well into the intended tone and its amazing. The creature is unlike anything we have seen before, I am certainly not spoiling anything on how it looks (unless you ask) but aside from some certain similarities of real creatures, it is really quite visual and unique...and the parasites are very similar but put to great use.

The acting was amazing. Aside from moments where Jessica Lucas performance felt forced and unnatural, a lot of emotions are thrown around in all there performances and we connect well with the way they respond and react to a lot of things...there are one or two moments even of a slowing in pace where we are offered some emotional moments and you can't help but get at least a little caught up in it.

I really don't think this review has done justice, nor has it given you a realistic example of how the film is from every angle. It leaves many things unanswered, but that's the point of the film, were you expecting an origin from an unexpecting group of people? It isn't original in style either, Blair Witch started it years ago with horror...but Cloverfield continues it in what can be seen as a reinvention of a dying genre. Unbelievably real in tone and remarkably intense, Cloverfield is briskly paced, unrelenting and with a dash of humor to keep us breathing. If you see this, only ever see it in theater, I feel the tone might get lost on DVD.

PS.

Let me also say this, I sat through the whole entirety of the film with a stiff neck, I was in such massive pain. There were times were I got a bit nauseous and felt like throwing up, but the whole presense and anticipation for the monster kept me in my seat. Not only did I barf afterwards all over my clothes and bathroom floor, I felt a bit scared looking outside my window. For 18 years now in my existence has no film ever given me chills.