Cloverfield Shows New Side Of Horror
“Warning! The following movie may cause nausea and motion sickness.” This is the puzzling message many theatre goers will experience prior to scurrying to their seats amidst a darkened backdrop. The previews will roll, the all too familiar movie logos will be displayed and the first and last few minutes of still, silent film will cryptically greet audience members. Treasure these moments for they just might be the last few moments you will spend with your lunch or dinner or whatever you ate last.
Cloverfield is the creation of Drew Goddard, producer of the TV series “Lost”; it takes place in New York City far from any deserted islands. On the night of a going away party for a young vice-president exec, the city is thrown into instant turmoil by a major explosion followed by monster sightings and the decapitated head of lady liberty. The small band of friends must survive the desperate street war going on around them and the quickly deteriorating city landscape to find a trapped comrade and make it to the drop point before the military levels all its force against the terrifying beast.
Filmed completely using a freehand style, Cloverfield can easily takes its place among the few Hollywood movies (Blair Witch Project) able to pull off this filming gimmick, the Handycam Chronicles. The movie has a rocky start with the audience and is hesitant to pull out anything to early on that will bait the viewer to do little more than casually glance at the all too realistic waking scene and practically smell morning breath. A quick jaunt around town and twenty more minutes of a forced party scene also add to the tension building between your optic nerves and your gag reflex all while the producer tries to keep you entertained with the favorite party game who-is-sleeping-with-who?
To be fair, once the action begins it is all out assault on your senses up to the final moments of the film including several close up images and views of the infamous “Cloverfield” monster. Though it is hard to appreciate with the vigorous jostling of the camera, the special effects are seamless and the green screen acting is superb.
If you are an avid monster movie buff you may be less than impressed with the short screen time and choppy filming technique; however, if you appreciate a good scare and you want the ultimate POV experience than Cloverfield could be just the flick of the year that has been waiting for you.