Things get a bit mental towards the end, but other than that it's great

Rating: 7/10 (31 January 2017)

A young woman Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)becomes involved in a car accident and wakes up to find herself in an underground nuclear bunker. Michelle, along with another man called Emmett (John Gallagher Jr) is being held in this bunker by Howard (John Goodman). Howard informs Michelle that there has been some kind of chemical/nuclear attack and that everyone else has been killed by this attack. Michelle is unnerved by Howard, but he assures her that he has rescued her and that he intends to look after her. Emmett witnessed Howard building the bunker and breaks into his bunker when he learns of the apocalypse. However, Michelle and Emmett both sense there is something not quite right about Howard and using Michelle's creative prowess they plot their escape.
For the most part, 10 Cloverfield Lane is so well-crafted and well-put together that's it's hard to believe that it was directed by someone who, at the time of writing this review, has only got 3 short films to his name. Trachtenberg mounts the tension admirably and in the early stages this film reminded me a little bit of Oldboy; Michelle has seemingly being abducted for unknown reasons, her captor explains why she's been held, but she doesn't know whether or not to believe in what she is being told by her captor. Howard's Jekyll and Hyde nature means that you're never quite sure what he is going to do from one minute to the next. There are moments in the film where everyone seems to be getting along, then other moments where Howard flairs up for no apparent reason and other occasions where he appears to be relatively calm in the aftermath of being attacked by Michelle. As a character, he is interesting and is someone you don't want to take your eyes away from when he's on screen. Trachtenberg also uses the enclosed environment to good effect with lots of close ups and close shots which creates a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere.
The performances help matters here with the likes of John Goodman & Mary Elizabeth Winstead being on particularly good form. The former is someone who is better known for playing loud, brash or comedy characters, but here he is much more low-key and subtle than normal - this is intended as a compliment as he was downright terrifying at times. Winstead is equally effective in her respective role; clever, ballsy, resourceful and ever so slightly vulnerable she's actually the sort of person who it is easy to form a rooting interest in. Gallagher Jr is OK, but never really makes the same impression on the picture as Goodman or Winstead.
The final 25 minutes are just a mixture of mad and crazy; the chase round the bunker between Michelle and Howard was exciting, albeit a tad predictable and all the alien stuff at the end was just crazy beyond words. I believe that this film is somehow linked to the original Cloverfield from 2008 so perhaps I shouldn't have been entirely surprised by what happened at the end, but given the way things were unfolding I expected the ending to be slightly more tense and powerful and I have to admit that the ending was slightly disappointing. Despite this though, the film does mostly work and although I found the ending slightly disappointing I have to admit that it still has plenty of good qualities.