CLOVERFIELD

"Whatever it is, it's winning"

As Robert Hawkins (Stahl-David) plans to leave New York for Japan, his friends throw him a going away party. As it kicks into full swing and each friend records a message to the video camera, a deafening sound erupts from the downtown area and a momentary power cut engulfs the Big Apple. As the partygoers head to the roof to see what is going on, a huge explosion happens a few blocks down the street and debris blasts into the air, falling all around them. Clambering down to the street below, Robert and his friends discover this is not another terrorist attack but a creature, something huge, attacking the city.

Many movies have used the Internet and marketing to drum up hype before the release date but when the film arrives it doesn't really life up to expectations but 'Cloverfield' is bucks that trend, big style!

The marketing campaign for latest movie from the 'Lost' and 'Alias' TV producer and the director of 'Mission: Impossible III' and the re-imagination of 'Star Trek', J.J. Abrams came out of nowhere. A trailer hit the Internet revealing that New York was been attacked and we would witness this from the point of view of a video camera. A website followed that just showed still shots from the film. The movie didn't even have a title but the online movie community became obsessed. While this is not the first time the Internet has been obsessed with a movie before its release, just look at the fuss that 'The Blair Witch Project' and 'Snakes on a Plane' caused but this is the first time that the movie has lived up to the marketing hype and surpassed all expectations.

The premise of 'Cloverfield' is a simple one and nothing new to the monster movie genre but it is the approach that producer J.J. Abrams, director Matt Reeves and their creative team have taken to bring the story to the silver screen that is a unique one. We have seen movies shot from the first person prospective before, with 'The Blair Witch Project' been the best-known example but never has the technique been used with as great aplomb as this. The story is one of survival as Rob, his brother Jason and girlfriend Lilly, best friend Hud and friend Marlena try and get to the apartment of Rob's on and off girlfriend Beth as Manhattan is turned into a war zone as the Military fight the monster. While this might not sound like the most original story and the characters suffer from not as much development as they could have had but the approach of showing what is going on from their prospective is one that increases the sense of peril and foreboding tenfold.

Using just a single camcorder to shoot the entire movie might seem a risking prospect and not allow the filmmakers to portray the scale or devastation of the attack but director Matt Reeves, the well written story and extremely well designed sets and set pieces make the movie look a lot bigger and a lot more expensive that is actually is. The subway tunnel sequence is terrifying, the army attacks on the marauding beast are exhilarating and the rescue of Beth will have you on the edge of your seat but this is nothing compared to the astonishing and moving finale.

The performances from the relatively unknown cast are first rate and very naturalistic. There are no grand speeches, no forced heroism or self-sacrifice here just people reacting to a life or death situation that they would have never expected. Michael Stahl-David is excellent as Rob, the man leaving New York to escape his feelings for Beth, his best friend who took his friendship to a whole new level and now regrets his actions. Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan and Odette Yustman play the stronger female roles of Lily, Marlena and Beth different to the usual screamers you have seen them playing is normal monster/horror movies. T.J. Miller provides a running commentary to the mayhem and injects a little bit of humour into the terror as Hud, the man behind the camcorder.

'Cloverfield' is a standout piece of cinema that will set a new trend of cheap, high concept movies from a camcorder prospective. The film is much more than a gimmick however, as it creates real tension throughout, genuine fear and will have you talking about it for a long time after the credits roll. While the constant movement of the camera could be uncomfortable for people who suffer from motion sickness and J.J. Abrams loving to pose more questions that he delivers answers, this is still a must see movie and one that will clambering to know more about the monster and where it came from. A monstrously good movie.

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2008