A great low key scI-fi movie with good writing and great young leading cast

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 2019)

I just ran across a copy of this movie that I forgot I had, and watched it immediately. I think that makes three times I have seen it. It reminds me of Monsters, another lower key scI-fi movie I really like. The train scene about twenty minutes into Super 8 is a blockbuster scene, so much so that I believe most movies wouldn't be able to keep the rest of the film from being anti-climactic. Usually a tremendous scene like that is saved for the end of a movie, but the plot required to be right where it was. But although the action and suspense ramps down a bit following it, the movie goes to work on building up the rest of the plot.
The young actors starring in this movie are great. They are smart and witty at times, but are clearly kids with kid behavior at other times, rather than miniature adults with adult lines. I wouldn't be surprised if this movie snuck its way into my 20 favorite movies ever list. You notice I said favorite, not best ever. There must be a few hundred movies better than this one, but I doubt I would want to watch too many of them multiple times like I have and will watch Super 8.