Cloverfield (2008)

Cloverfield Poster

Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.

Film Overview
"Cloverfield" is a 2008 American monster motion picture directed by Matt Reeves and produced by J.J. Abrams' production business, Bad Robot Productions. Utilizing a found-footage storytelling style, Cloverfield uses a distinct, first-person viewpoint of catastrophic occasions. The movie stars Michael Stahl-David, T.J. Miller, Jessica Lucas, Odette Yustman, and Lizzy Caplan.

Plot Summary
"Cloverfield" focuses on a group of pals in New York City who are going to a goodbye celebration for their good friend Rob, who will move to Japan for a task. Rob's friend, Hud, is charged with documenting the whole event using a portable camera. When an unexpected and violent earthquake shakes the city, the good friends leave the celebration and relocate to the streets, just to witness an enormous beast attacking the city.

Periodically, the film cuts to footage of Rob and his long time love interest, Beth, tape-recorded earlier in the day, catching them think back and express their sensations for each other. However, throughout the celebration, a disagreement in between Rob and Beth leads her to leave early. As chaos takes place, Rob gets a distressing voicemail from Beth, trapped in her apartment, prompting him to launch a rescue mission in the middle of the continuous destruction.

The Film's Distinctive Style
"Cloverfield" stands apart due to its innovative found-footage design, a technique in which a movie looks like though it's discovered video recordings, often left by missing out on or dead protagonists. This strategy includes a sense of realism and urgency to the story, presenting the film as a firsthand file of the catastrophe. Moreover, unlike traditional beast films, the movie refrains from describing the origin of the monster or the resolution of its fear, contributing to the scary and suspense.

Performances
The actors provide genuine performances, contributing to the film's sense of realism. The characters' responses to the monstrous attack feel real, incorporating a variety of emotions from disbelief and fear to bravery. These aspects collectively make the "Cloverfield" viewing experience special and individual. Michael Stahl-David as Rob shines as an unwilling hero, while T.J. Miller provides comic relief amidst the fear as Hud.

Crucial Reception
"Cloverfield" was a commercial success and received generally positive evaluations from critics. While some critics discovered the portable camera strategy nauseating, others appreciated it for bringing a fresh and engaging perspective to monster-movie stories. Overall, the movie was applauded for its fresh narrative approach, suspenseful environment, and effective usage of visual impacts.

In conclusion, "Cloverfield" is a distinctly stylistic and engaging take on the beast film category. The film successfully integrates conventional elements of horror and disaster films with new-age recording methods, making it an interesting and satisfying ride for its audience. The film succeeded enough to spawn 2 thematic follows up, "10 Cloverfield Lane" (2016) and "The Cloverfield Paradox" (2018), connecting into a larger Cloverfield universe.

Top Cast

  • Matt Reeves (small)
    Matt Reeves
    Radio Announcer (voice)
  • Michael Stahl-David (small)
    Michael Stahl-David
    Rob Hawkins
  • T.J. Miller (small)
    T.J. Miller
    Hudson 'Hud' Platt
  • Lizzy Caplan (small)
    Lizzy Caplan
    Marlena Diamond
  • Jessica Lucas (small)
    Jessica Lucas
    Lily Ford
  • Odette Annable (small)
    Odette Annable
    Beth McIntyre
  • Mike Vogel (small)
    Mike Vogel
    Jason Hawkins
  • Anjul Nigam (small)
    Anjul Nigam
    Bodega Cashier
  • Margot Farley (small)
    Margot Farley
    Jenn
  • Theo Rossi (small)
    Theo Rossi
    Antonio
  • Brian Klugman (small)
    Brian Klugman
    Charlie