Derivative, but still really good

Rating: 8/10 (12 June 2011)

J.J. Abrams aims to make an homage to Spielberg (who co-produced) in this summer blockbuster. The homaging is pretty rampant, and you'll catch references not just to Spileberg's films (mostly Close Encounters, E.T. and The Goonies, which he produced), but to Carpenter's The Thing, Romero's The Crazies and Night of the Living Dead, Bong's The Host and Abrams' own Cloverfield (which he produced and co-wrote). All of this can make the film, at times, seem derivative, but, amazingly, it mostly works. The reason is the cast. The protagonists are a group of kids who are making a film. Newcomer Joel Courtney is the son of a local deputy (Kyle Chandler). Elle Fanning is the slightly older girl who is newly joining the group as the film's star (of course, she becomes Chandler's love interest). The other kids are played by Riley Griffiths, Gabriel Basso, Zach Mills and Ryan Lee (particularly memorable as the kid obsessed with explosives). While they're filming their zombie movie, they witness a horrific train derailment that releases something mysterious into their small Ohio town. The air force (led by Noah Emmerich) arrives shortly thereafter to investigate the weird goings-on which are disrupting the town. The film is nothing original, but those kids are so wonderful they make the film thoroughly enjoyable. Abrams also knows how to build a set-piece, although, occasionally, he goes over the top. The film is funny when it needs to be, and it can be very scary at times, too. This is certainly a very enjoyable time at the movies.