CLOVERFIELD LANE In 2008 the Bad Robot team along with J.J. Abrams gave us the found footage monster flick "Cloverfield." The movie wasn't everybody's cup of tea, and reports of audience members getting sick from the shaky cam were abundant.
Well, that movie was my cup of tea, and some fans of the film have been asking the same question for the past eight years that I've been asking, "When are we going to get a sequel?"
We now have a "Cloverfield" sequel kind of.
I wouldn't call "10 Cloverfield Lane" a direct sequel to "Cloverfield," but it is in the same universe as the 2008 film. Truth be told I think "10 Cloverfield Lane" is a better film than what we would have received had it been a direct sequel.
Here are some reasons "10 Cloverfield Lane" is a worth a trip to the theater:
Messes with your noggin
"10 Cloverfield Lane" is very much a minimalist film. It includes a cast of three for the majority of the film and is mainly set within a very limited space. We are kept in the dark for much of the film, and we're figuring everything out with the characters and finding ourselves as frustrated and confused as they are. But somehow it's all incredibly enjoyable.
So many times I found myself introspectively thinking, "Where are they going to take this now?" Then another plot twist was dropped, and I loved every minute of it.
This movie has plenty of jump scares, but it's more of a psychological thriller than a scary monster flick.
The cast
As I mentioned earlier the cast is mainly composed of just three actors: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher Jr.
All three play off each other brilliantly and add the right amount of tension, humor and intensity that we become fully invested in each character. Gallagher Jr. isn't a household name, but he quickly becomes the heart of the film and he's an actor you'll remember after the film. Winstead really shines as the lead of the film, and the audience can't help but immerse themselves in her character.
Then there's John Goodman. We know he's a great actor, but he's playing a different character than we're use to and he's perfect in the role.
The less you know the better
Paramount Pictures didn't even announce the film until it was completely finished, and the debut trailer ran with "13 Hours" back in January. The film was kept hush-hush, and the marketing gave us a little insight into what the movie was about, but kept us largely in the dark. I'd like to thank the production team for all the secrecy because it paid off.
All you need to know going into the film is that the film "Cloverfield" existed and that's about it. Trust me, the less you know the more you're going to enjoy "10 Cloverfield Lane"
Conclusion
I don't want to say too much for obvious reasons, but know I really enjoyed this movie and look forward to watching it with a fresh audience.
"10 Cloverfield Lane" is rated PG-13 for thematic material, including frightening sequences of threat with some violence and brief language.
Also, if you're worried about more shaky cam, no need to worry. "10 Cloverfield Lane" is not a found-footage film and includes no handheld camera work.
Overall it is for more adult audiences. I wouldn't say it's teetering on an R rating, but it is not a family film or for younger teen audiences. The movie is intense, claustrophobic and often times disturbing. If you don't like psychological thrillers or "monster" films then this isn't for you. If you like being teased and getting a few good scares then you're really going to enjoy "10 Cloverfield Lane."
Well, that movie was my cup of tea, and some fans of the film have been asking the same question for the past eight years that I've been asking, "When are we going to get a sequel?"
We now have a "Cloverfield" sequel kind of.
I wouldn't call "10 Cloverfield Lane" a direct sequel to "Cloverfield," but it is in the same universe as the 2008 film. Truth be told I think "10 Cloverfield Lane" is a better film than what we would have received had it been a direct sequel.
Here are some reasons "10 Cloverfield Lane" is a worth a trip to the theater:
Messes with your noggin
"10 Cloverfield Lane" is very much a minimalist film. It includes a cast of three for the majority of the film and is mainly set within a very limited space. We are kept in the dark for much of the film, and we're figuring everything out with the characters and finding ourselves as frustrated and confused as they are. But somehow it's all incredibly enjoyable.
So many times I found myself introspectively thinking, "Where are they going to take this now?" Then another plot twist was dropped, and I loved every minute of it.
This movie has plenty of jump scares, but it's more of a psychological thriller than a scary monster flick.
The cast
As I mentioned earlier the cast is mainly composed of just three actors: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher Jr.
All three play off each other brilliantly and add the right amount of tension, humor and intensity that we become fully invested in each character. Gallagher Jr. isn't a household name, but he quickly becomes the heart of the film and he's an actor you'll remember after the film. Winstead really shines as the lead of the film, and the audience can't help but immerse themselves in her character.
Then there's John Goodman. We know he's a great actor, but he's playing a different character than we're use to and he's perfect in the role.
The less you know the better
Paramount Pictures didn't even announce the film until it was completely finished, and the debut trailer ran with "13 Hours" back in January. The film was kept hush-hush, and the marketing gave us a little insight into what the movie was about, but kept us largely in the dark. I'd like to thank the production team for all the secrecy because it paid off.
All you need to know going into the film is that the film "Cloverfield" existed and that's about it. Trust me, the less you know the more you're going to enjoy "10 Cloverfield Lane"
Conclusion
I don't want to say too much for obvious reasons, but know I really enjoyed this movie and look forward to watching it with a fresh audience.
"10 Cloverfield Lane" is rated PG-13 for thematic material, including frightening sequences of threat with some violence and brief language.
Also, if you're worried about more shaky cam, no need to worry. "10 Cloverfield Lane" is not a found-footage film and includes no handheld camera work.
Overall it is for more adult audiences. I wouldn't say it's teetering on an R rating, but it is not a family film or for younger teen audiences. The movie is intense, claustrophobic and often times disturbing. If you don't like psychological thrillers or "monster" films then this isn't for you. If you like being teased and getting a few good scares then you're really going to enjoy "10 Cloverfield Lane."