A twist on an old genre, Cloverfield shows that even an old concept can still sell

Rating: 8/10 (30 January 2008)

My first reaction to seeing the "mysterious" movie trailer in which one is treated to the scene of large section of New York exploding, followed of course by the head of the State of Liberty bouncing down a street, was one of awe. Not only was this film being produced by JJ Abrams, better known in my opinion for the series Lost, but it was filmed in such a way that seemed unique. A hand held camera telling the story from the view point of one or at least a few other characters? Yes, we saw this before with the dreadfully silly Blair Witch Project. However, this was taking the concept to a whole new level even though no one had a clue to what actually was happening.
Now that the plot is known to everyone, the idea behind it is still unique. A monster movie based upon the limited view points of only four major characters? In movies such as Godzilla and King Kong the audience knew more than the characters so it was easy to dismiss their actions and thoughts if one disliked them. However, with Cloverfield the situation is different. Now the audience is forced to only know and experience what the characters themselves are facing. Frustrating to some, but I found it drawing me in further because I was so desperate to also know what was going on.
Rob (Michael Stahl-David) has been promoted and will now work overseas in Japan which of course will take him far from his brother Jason (Mike Vogel) and best friend Hud (T.J. Miller). To honor the occasion, Jason's fiancée Lily (Jessica Lucas) decides to set up a surprise party with all of Rob's close friends so they could all see him off together. Of course Rob would want to remember this so Lily convinces Jason to record the party on an hand held camera which Jason then dumps upon Hud who finds himself enjoying the new responsibility as well as the opportunity to draw close to Marlena (Lizzy Caplan).
The party is a success until the appearance of Beth (Odette Yustman) and her new boyfriend. I should back up and explain that Cloverfield starts with images from the camera of Rob and Beth together. Images that are slowly being erased as Hud continues to film but since Jason and Beth now seem to be far apart due to some strange twist in their relationship, Rob claims to have little interest in them.
As if life couldn't get more stressful for Rob, the city is suddenly rocked by a strange earthquake. What is the obvious thing to do? Well, run up to the roof to get a better view of the city which of course everyone at the party decides to do. While Hud pans over New York's night line, it is then that an explosion literally tears apart a large section of the city. Everyone screams and begins running from the roof and only stop when they reach the city street where they are joined by other New Yorkers who stare with horror as buildings seemingly fall on their own.
What happens next is captured solely by Hud who runs, trips, falls, screams, and cries as much as everyone else around him. The idea sounds silly but it actually works and also gives the characters a deeper sense of depth in that the only camera, so to speak, they are acting in front of is the small one before them. The sudden motions, fuzzy images, and dusty shots gives one the impression that for the most part something like this actually happened. Some complained of sickness because of this however I was not one of them. Cloverfield's strength is in the way it is filmed and if you didn't like that then you have no reason to like the movie at all.
The movie follows the basic idea behind an escape movie in that Rob, Jason, Lily, Hud, Beth and Marlena, must escape the city at all costs. The deaths of Jason and Marlena, as well as the rescue attempt to save Beth, drive the rest of the drama of Cloverfield. It is easy to argue that there isn't much substance behind Cloverfield but one really misses the point if that is one's feelings about Cloverfield. Once more Cloverfield is a movie not just about the monster attack itself but in how the story is told. That is where the real strengths of the movie are found.
Cloverfield isn't a perfect movie and one can argue that the idea of someone really wanting to hold onto the same camera during a monster attack is simply unrealistic. Okay, so what? How realistic is a monster attack to begin with? One shouldn't be too critical of Cloverfied but instead should simply agree with everyone that takes place and enjoy the ride. Cloverfield shows that an old genre such as monster attacks can still work even today.
8/10