A Movie Fueled By Viral Hype That DOESN'T Disappoint!

Rating: 8/10 (18 January 2008)

So what has months of internet hype and viral marketing given us? Apparently, a pretty damn good movie by most people's standards. "Cloverfield" is the lovechild of a bunch of guys who got bored with writing and directing TV and decided to try their hand at a film. And it paid off, big time.
As is evident from the trailers, "Cloverfield" is the story of a group of six friends trying to escape Manhattan during an attack from an unknown monster. All of this seems utterly familiar from any other monster movie, but the thing that makes it original is the Blair Witch-esquire storytelling from the point of view of a handicam. The film starts out by showing a series of screens, followed by the text "SD Memory Card from the camera retrieved from US Site-???, area formerly known as Central Park". We are then introduced to Rob and Beth, two of the main characters. They are seen laying together in bed, planning out their day, just like you'd see in any home movie. The rough cuts fit well, as it shifts from that day to another where Rob is planning on leaving for Japan for a job. The camera is now in the hands of Jason, Rob's brother, as he and his girlfriend Lilly, Rob's best friend Hud, and a few others prepare for Rob's going away party. It all fits the bill of being a home movie very nicely, until the monster attacks. Hud, the cameraman, decides to document the night to let everyone know "how it all went down". From there, we are introduced to the sometimes nausea-inducing shaky camera movements.
But you cannot fault Reeves for doing what he did: the camera is very shaky and during a few scenes almost unbearable, but it never breaks the illusion that we are watching a first-hand account of what is going on. Frequent turning on and off of the camera give the film a seamless quality. Hud, the resident idiot, also filmed over the tape that Rob used to film his lovely date at Coney Island with Beth - so when Hud turns the camera off improperly, we are given a few brief moments of the tape he recorded over, helping us to understand Rob and Beth's relationship.
The idea is nothing short of genius. I seem to keep reading people chastising the film for being overdone or unoriginal, but all I can see is originality and a fresh idea. It's Blair Witch meets Godzilla. But it's done with style, heart, and a surprising amount of substance. The cast, which is comprised of mostly no-name television actors, pulls off a collaboratively believable performance. Every actor in the film helps sustain the illusion that this is real footage from the night, and that they are being completely natural on-camera.
"Cloverfield" avoids many easily ensnaring pitfalls and clichÃ©s. The film takes a few minutes to warm up, but then it launches into an hour-long, bloody, terrifying, no-holds-barred rampage where no character or set piece is safe from the destruction. Ignore the naysayers - "Cloverfield" is an adrenaline rush with thought and characters. Finally, I've seen a Hollywood Hype-Machine that was worth all the hype, especially considering the brainless, mind melting action poo piles that they've been throwing at us the past few years. Abrams also dishes out to the hardcore fans of the film, dropping little hidden tidbits of clues and hints, and rewards the diligent seekers by putting in hidden secrets only the truest of nerds would be able to find. It's films like these that make me embrace my nerdiness.
Great film, and a great way to start out 2008.