It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a good, serious, monster movie. Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong was pretty good, but it was still King Kong. I never got into Eight-Legged Freaks, or the new Godzilla. I just constantly felt like I’d been there and done that.
So when I learned J.J. Abrams new movie, Cloverfield, was a “monster attacks New York” movie, I wasn’t really excited about going to see it. However, I quickly learned this movie would have a new twist that peaked my interest. (I debated with myself about the “spoiler” aspect of this next part, but since it’s on the movie’s website, I don’t think it really qualifies.)
Rather than being the traditional monster movie, Cloverfield is actually a movie about five friends who try to survive and escape Manhattan the evening a monster attacks the city. This is good. For the first time we’re going to tell the story of people who aren’t directly involved with combating the monster. They’re just like you or me. With very little information and a few frightening encounters, they attempt to try and stay alive among the chaos. The best part is that the viewer only has as much information as the main characters. It’s a very limited perspective, but one that highlights and emphasizes the horror of the encounter.
My only caveat is for people who get motion sickness. The camera shakes like a son of a bitch. The entire movie is shot as if it’s a Hi-8 camera held by one of the main characters as he documents the group’s escapades. It can get to you if you’re not careful.
I enjoyed it. I really did. It brought a refreshing viewpoint to a tired, worn-out subgenre. If anyone likes to see fictional conventions turned on their heads to tell a new story, then you ought to not miss this. Once you see it, be sure to scout around for the “viral marketing” out on the Internet. Some of it isn’t bad at all.
-K
