Promising Start Ruined By Dismal Ending

Rating: Null/10 (14 May 2020)

Scoring high on nostalgia and serving as a heartfelt homage to the magical works of Steven Spielberg, Super 8 draws its inspirations from the summer blockbusters of the 1980s and makes impressive use of available resources to deliver the thrills but despite its incredibly promising start, the film fails to conclude the journey on a wholly satisfying note.
Directed by J.J. Abrams (Mission: Impossible III & Star Trek), the story is intriguing from the get-go and the nostalgic touches plus nods to earlier classics are carried out in a tasteful fashion. The first act is an absolute delight that sets things up on a spectacular note and paves a solid groundwork for the rest of the story but it all goes awry as the film nears its conclusion.
The suspenseful moments are executed with finesse and effortlessly sustain their nail-biting intensity. Even the dramatic moments between the kids exhibit certain tenderness & understanding. The underlying mystery of it all drives the narrative. And performances from the cast is sincere. The ending isn't entirely a disaster but after such an explosive start, more was expected.
Overall, Super 8 had the potential to finish as one of the most enjoyable, thrilling & entertaining examples of its kind, and it does walk that path for a good portion of its runtime before stepping off the tracks and derailing in the final moments. It is nonetheless an awe-inspiring effort that's crafted with heart & passion, and will delight many if not all. A missed opportunity of sorts, Super 8 is still worth a shot.