Cloverfield (2008)
Time: 1h 25mins
Director: Matt Reeves
Quick Summary: A group of friends venture deep into the streets of New York on a rescue mission during a rampaging monster attack.
Not a massive fan of found footage films, but I was really invested in this film. The camera is incredibly shaky and it is hard to tell what is sometimes happening, but I found that it made it more immersive. I liked that this didn't feel like a film and that I was actually watching the documentation of someone's experience in this attack. I found it irritating that I couldn't fully see everything or that things weren't properly in focus, but I did really like they chose to only show glimpses of the monster for the majority of the film.
There is no set-up for this film, it just chucks you right in with the characters and the event and it never holds your hand at any point of the film, barely any information is given. It's just pure panic and chaos. Although this doesn't mean this film is a mess, it's actually a really cohesive film to follow. It chooses to not be the same old action film and shows us actually what would more than likely be happening with the general public. Normal people reacting to an insane event.
Added to this is the acting. It is that great. But that makes the experience feel more real. They don't know what to say half the time, their dialogue is awkward and short and something I found amusing is that they made jokes about the situation that real people would probably make. The camera makes you feel like this is your point of view and you are right there with the characters. Admittedly, these characters are incredibly flawed and pretty damn reckless considering the situation they are in. A lot of the time I just sat there wondering why the hell they were doing what they were doing.
Now there isn't actually much of a plot looking at it. Simply it is run out of the city and try not to die. They added a side arc into this which I thought was incredibly stupid and put literally the whole group in more danger. I didn't like the romance in this too, which did go hand in hand with that side arc, but it wasn't needed and honestly, it was probably there only to make that happen and fill out a bit of the film.
When it comes to the monster, I found its design incredibly interesting. No information is directly given about it throughout this movie too, it all comes down to implication. It is incredibly overpowered, tearing through the city like it is paper and demolishing anything and anyone in its path. What is also interesting is that it is aware of things, choosing to attack groups of people and helicopters, it's not just mindlessly killing. Even though we do get some good looks at this monster, I just wish they were more clear.
Another thing is there is absolutely no music. Only ambience which to me is a clever touch as that only draws you in more. You stay focused on the visual experience that this gives.
Even if you are not a massive fan of found footage I do recommend this, from someone who usually dislikes those, as this is a special case that I incredibly enjoyed.
8/10
" Marlena: Like Superman?
Hud: Yeah, exactly like... Wait. You know who Superman is?
Marlena: Oh, my God. You know who Superman is?
Hud: Okay, I'm not...
Marlena: [sarcastically] I'm, like, feeling something. Are you aware of Garfield. "
"Hud: Okay, just to be clear here, our options are: die here, die in the tunnels, or die in the streets. That pretty much it?"
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