The Best Monster Horror Movie Ever!

Rating: 10/10 (2 February 2008)

Yesterday, I saw the movie Cloverfield. I didn't have much idea about it and I have only seen bits and pieces of trailers and videos from the internet and TV. Not expecting much, I decided to watch it. I'm not much of a horror movie fan myself (the last good horror film that I saw prior to this one is Ju-On: The Grudge (original Japanese version the American version sucked ass big time) some 2 or 3 years ago. Anyway, I have been intrigued by this movie since late last year. And I have seen it at last the best monster horror movie ever made. Why is it the best, you ask? Well, there are lots of factors to be considered for it to be the best. First reason, it is very unique. I have never seen a movie this cool before. When I say cool I mean it put my adrenaline level on high for most of the movie (starting when the monster started shaking New York City (Yes, New York City AGAIN this city has been destroyed countless times before in movies!) and everyone started running for his life). Secondly, the use of a single hand held video camera is very effective in showing realism while documenting everything that has been happening in the movie, as well as the different emotions of the characters (which induced motion sickness to lots of people watching the film due to instability of the camera especially when the person handling the camera is running I wonder what it feels like watching it while sitting on a motion simulation seat). Thirdly, there is no musical score in the movie (adding to the realism because when you are being attacked by a monster, there is no musical score to hype you up, is there?). Fourthly, there are no big time movie stars in movies (because I'm tired of seeing big movie stars running for their lives it doesn't happen in real life). And lastly, the monster the film would not be a monster horror film without the big ass, city-whoopin' monster and the coolest thing about the film is the monster was just the backdrop of the entire movie and the real ass kicker is the people being attacked by the monster; how they coped with the situation and handled their emotions amidst the peril staring them right at their faces (the monster was only shown in glimpses especially in the middle of the movie when it was being attacked with tanks and missiles and whatnot by the military while it wrecks buildings and dropping little monsters and it was shown in all its horrifying glory only once near the end (the monster stared at the person handling the camera straight in the eye, before trying to eat and kill him)).
Let's talk a little about the technical aspects of the movie:

The use of a single hand-held video camera: as I said earlier, this technique gave the movie realism like no other film on existence. The disorienting rawness of everything being presented in the movie is just great. I felt like I was there with the people running and dying and I almost felt the terror and fright that the people were feeling. The movie The Blair Witch Project was used the same technique some years ago (I have never seen that movie, though) and people were somehow fooled into thinking that they were indeed watching a real life documentary about witches and stuff. The movie War of the Worlds also came into my mind while watching this movie, but it was not presented in first person point of view so that movie is lame compared to this one. Tom Cruise doesn't show enough rawness. - The lack of a musical score: the movie was either very quiet (when the characters stops for short time to rest on the subway station and no one is talking and the only sound heard is the thumping of the monster's feet on the streets above) or very loud (when buildings crash, missiles are fired, and the monster roars). All sounds seem raw and spine-chilling. No strings or winds or drum beats to perk them up. - The CGI: all the monsters (the big one and its little tiny versions) and Lady Liberty's head and buildings toppling over and bridges collapsing and the stealth bombers and helicopters and tanks and people bursting were all rendered in post production. Well, what's new with that, you ask? Everyone's doing that nowadays. In this movie, since everything is captured using the video camera, everything seems real. The blending of the real characters and CGI is so seamless that it's hard to know which one is fake and which one is really happening (this is a movie so everything is fake, but you get my point). - The length of the movie: the movie is not overly long (hell, it's not long at all; the entire movie ran for less that 1 and half hours) but with all the excitement and realism and monster goodness didn't let me down. I didn't feel like hanging in the air and cheated. The length of the film is just enough to show the drama and terror and all in between.

Over-all, this movie is a real must-see. If you want a very unique film with realism like no other and a great adrenaline rush, this is the movie for you.