An Intense Experience...

Rating: 7/10 (20 January 2008)

Cloverfield is probably one of the greatest examples of a concept movie ever made. And by that I mean it is a great concept movie as well. It's the story of a giant monster attacking New York City seen through a hand-held camera. We follow a small group of 20-somethings as they try to escape from the horror that is unfolding around them, and we get pretty close to experiencing it with them.
Frenetic, intense scenes is the name of the game here. The hand-held camera is a clever twist that makes this visually exhausting film unique. Even at it's very short length, the film almost runs too long- you feel very tired by the time the credits roll.
JJ Abrams was clever in his use of little to unknown actors, and they all do a good job making it seem pretty natural. The best of these is Lizzy Caplan in a nice supporting turn. The special effects are all fantastic and extremely believable and SCARY, another plus to this film. Most of the plot works well, though a romantic side-plot for the lead character feels forced at times. If you want an intense viewing experience (and have a strong stomach), Cloverfield is definitely for you. 7/10 stars!
Jay Addison