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CLOVERFIELD
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Our first questions going into the teaser were: What's attacking New York? Why New York? Is it a monster? Is this a movie or a television show? All of our questions are answered in what is surely one of the greatest giant monster movies I've seen in literal years, almost toppling "The Host" in quality and pure characterization. "Cloverfield" is a mixture of Guerilla home video, horror, dark comedy, along with immensely disturbing overtones of 9/11; One sequence in particular is almost a moment by moment recreation of 9/11 footage, and it will surely keep people at the edge of their seats attempting to unfold this mystery once and for all. Surely this brilliant viral marketing juggernaut has given way to an incredible movie with a monster that is simply unique. I write this review on egg shells so as not to ruin what is a film that should be experienced, but Abrams does not lie when he describes the monster as "Nothing You've Ever Seen Before." There is much ambiguity to the source of the monster in the film, and unless you've followed the internet back story, "Cloverfield" is washed in a sea of mystery as it answers questions audiences were begging for. What brought this monster to New York City? Why is this monster in New York City? The ambiguity works to a wonderful extent giving way to a monster that's never over explained or extrapolated ad nauseum.
There are no arguments about its feeding habits, its mating habits, or its sexuality, there's no moment where we feel compelled to sympathize for it. This is not a typical monster movie, yet we're given enough to where the mystique only adds to the horrific presence. Simply, "Cloverfield" is not just a monster movie, it's a movie about a journey to get across hell and Earth to find that one person who means to most to our hero Rob. After his surprise party is ruined by the subsequent invasion from the monster, he vows to find his ex-girlfriend and ventures into the city risking life and limb just to assure himself she's okay. What then? "Cloverfield" begs the question and always keeps you in suspense wondering "What now?" When all looks bleak, the events just become bleaker. Matt Reeves' direction is pretty competent as he keeps the footage always genuine where our camera man Hud keeps the accounts jarring and chaotic, but with just enough glimpses at the beast to satisfy our hunger. Reeves is so insistent on novelty that moments are purely static and we can barely make out what is occurring. What "Cloverfield" aims for is not so much a giant monster attacking New York, but mainly the citizens of this city struggling to hold on to one another as the bonafide apocalypse rises from the waters to wreak pure havoc on our monuments and helpless victims. Michael Stahl David is great as Robert Hawkins the valiant every man who watches the people he loves die around him and finds the ability to make it through the night to pursue a mission that may be in vain. Lizzy Caplan has a sardonic with about her as the inadvertent ally to the small group Marlena, who is basically forced to go to the party and finds herself fighting tooth and nail to get to safety with the people she barely knows. Her interplay with the group and with Hud make for the best scenes in the movie. TJ Miller is the highlight as the voice behind the camera following Robert to his goal and cracking wise out of sheer horror. While he is a character who could have instantly grated on my nerves, his comedic output is light and subtle and always from the mouth of someone who is just as confused, frightened, and paralyzed as everyone else around him. “Cloverfield” is a satisfying and bleak giant monster movie, and hopefully one that will usher in a new wave of movies of the same ilk. Simply put, I haven't had so much fun in the movies in years.
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We live in an age where we're always watching someone. Cameras watch us,
guards watch the cameras, surveillance videos keep an eye on potential
criminals, we watch people on web cams, we pay to watch women undress
for us, we peer into celebrites lives through tabloids and candid
cameras, we watch reality shows built around surveillance cameras and
hidden video, and we're constantly being watched by our government who
keep us monitored and at close range, so it was only natural that horror
movies would grow to reflect that. "Cloverfield" is one in the "Blair
Witch" formula that doesn't try to give us a film, but more purports to
give us actual home videos through the eyes of average upper class New
Yorkers and keep us watching through a camera lens. Through this camera,
we are the voyeurs. We're not watching a movie, we're bearing witness to
an incredible event, and we're only going to get more when Romero's
"Diary of the Dead" hits theaters. "Cloverfield" has been preceded with
months of hype and internet mystery, and kudos to the folks at Bad Robot
for keeping us in the dark for almost a year.
Kudos to Abrams, Reeves, and everyone involved, as "Cloverfield" is one
of the best giant monster movies I've seen in years. It's a tense,
creepy, and incredible piece of monster movie cinema, period. There's
nothing left to be said.
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