Filmmakers' joke on filmgoers.

Rating: 1/10 (21 January 2008)

Viewers are entitled to be given something by a motion picture such as some insight into the human experience, a challenge to already held belief systems, or sheer entertainment value. The something viewers of Cloverfield are entitled to be given is a refund. Hand-held camera-work might provide the aura of realism in moderation; a whole film of camera-vibrato produces only nausea. A plot would have been helpful, but a going-away party for 25% of the film followed by a mysterious attack on New York by what for why, while girl bitten by spider explodes and severely injured rescued girlfriend races away like an Olympic sprinter on HGH, don't qualify. How about giving the audience some sense of what the monster is, why it's picking on the Big Apple (probably something to do with the Knicks), or a feeling of possible resolution? Nah; that would spoil their joke. Please don't give the filmmakers credit for Citizen Kane-like foresight into cinematic technique for their failure to provide even the most basic elements just because they fell in love with the video camera. Pocket the money and keep the 90 minutes. You'll never get them back if you go to see this Blair Witch clone.