Sci-Fi Thriller and Indie give birth to the exciting creature that is "Cloverfield"

Rating: 8/10 (20 January 2008)

In a film where a giant monster attacks Manhattan, there are a lot of questions. What is it? Where did it come from? Why is it being destructive? "Cloverfield" doesn't want to answer these questions, it just wants you to ask them.
It's a hard concept to grasp, but this film, brought to the screen by LOST's J.J. Abrams and his property Bad Robot, doesn't want you to get caught up in the details. Your job is to experience what goes on and react to it and for much of the film. Sure, it's frustrating, it doesn't make sense, but Abrams and director Matt Reeves are aiming for that for a reason.
As soon as disaster strikes, images and feelings of 9/11 are conjured. With a cast of unknowns and a single camcorder as the source of the images, "Cloverfield" feels very real. While the film takes off from there as a monster attack/alien invasion, for a majority of it you are interested in what's happening to these people and how they're handling the situation. There is a lot of stuff that's hard to believe, but without it there's not much of a film. In general, the dialogue and the reactions of the people are very realistic and for a majority of the film keeps you on the edge of your seat.
In a sense, "Cloverfield" is a sci-fi, fictional United 93, a gritty retelling of events (although false). The undertones of tragedy are difficult and it's amazing how these young actors are able to convey such realism.
"Cloverfield" takes several different styles and genres and fuses them into something new and successful. It is the kind of film that if imitated in any way by any future film will clearly not get by without constant references to this film. It is exciting and innovative and exactly the kind of twisting of the norm that Hollywood needs to stay fresh while staying successful. It's not mind-blowing or genius, but it's got style. It goes to show that big blockbuster-style films can be done in small independent film-style ways.