Cloverfield

Cloverfield is an apocalyptic action thriller. The film was directed by Matt Reeves and produced by J. J. Abrams and unusually used viral marketing and teaser trailers. The actors cast are not major stars including Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, TJ Miller, Michael Stahl-David and Mike Vogel and add to the gritty realism of the story which is shot in first person camcorder style.

The film was a huge success at the box office, probably in part due to the total plot secrecy and viral marketing which was a big risk by the makers. However, audiences were split in their reviews, many simply liked the film; it was tense and gripping and the camera style certainly added something to the suspense. Unfortunately many viewers wanted more for their money; they wanted a bit of back story on the monster and also a bit of closure on what happened after the end of the camera playback.

However, if you like your science fiction gritty and almost horror you will like this. The characters are well developed even if you don’t like some of them and the sheer immensity of the attack slowly comes across by the end of the film.

During a party five friends and their video camera get caught up in a disaster of almost biblical proportions when an alien monster invades New York.

Cinema release 2008

Certificate PG

Available on DVD and Blue Ray