Cloverfield ‘Lost’ in New York
New Film from J.J. Abrams A Monster Hit, Slightly Disappointing
In Cloverfield, Lost creator J.J. Abrams set out to deliver a monster movie for the post 9/11 generation. The film’s premise is simple - a monster attacks New York and threatens the lives of its citizens. However, Cloverfield stands out due to its deep roots in reality, at least in the beginning.
A group of friends gather at a downtown Manhattan apartment building to throw a bon voyage party for Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David) who’s leaving for Japan. Typical young people conflicts surface: who likes who, who doesn’t like who. But personal dramas soon become overshadowed when the lights go out in New York City and a series of massive explosions occur.
Cloverfield Monster Attacks
The group of friends including Jason Hawkins (Mike Vogel) and Marlena Diamond (brilliantly played by Lizzy Caplan) run into chaotic streets filled with people screaming and fleeing in every direction amid a cloud of rubble and dust. Suddenly a large object falls from the sky and the head of the Statue of Liberty rolls down the street smashing cars and squashing bystanders.
The images of these people running through the streets covered in debris mirror the tragic events of September 11, 2001 when something attacked New York and set the city in a tailspin. Just like on that fateful morning, during the first act of the film you have no idea what is happening. You hear sounds and see glimpses of events but the true horror comes from not knowing. Up to this point J.J. Abrams has recreated Lost in New York City.
Hud Platt (T.J. Miller), in charge of documenting the going away party, continues to film the happenings outside. Reminiscent of the Blair Witch Project, the film screens like a home movie, making the audience a part of the action and the events even more terrifying and at times nauseating.
Our heroes head for the Brooklyn Bridge, as did countless New Yorkers that fateful morning in September. However the bridge comes under attack and is flung into the water below along with Jason Hawkins and other party goers. You hear the creaking of the bridge and the snaps as the support cables break apart. Screaming people surround you as the bridge collapses.
Cloverfield Gets Lost
So far you’re with the characters and feel their tension. Unfortunately, from this point on the movie begins its decent. Suddenly it becomes a love story when Rob Hawkins decides to return into the centre of the mayhem to rescue Beth McIntyre (Odette Tustman), a girl he loved for one night, a month prior to these events.
In true Hollywood fashion, the group follows Rob back into the city, and find Beth, who is tragically injured, yet makes a miraculous recovery once Rob comes to her rescue. There are some truly intense moments along the way but this reuniting of lovers subplot just leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
As for the monster itself, you do get to see it, unlike the J.J. Abrams’ monster in Lost, and that’s when you begin to detach from the film. Cloverfield works because it seeps into your imagination and the true fear comes from not knowing. Once you’ve seen the monster, around the same time as the Rob saves Beth, you’ve checked out.
Even though Cloverfield contains some of the best special effects since Transformers, it could have been so much better. The potential was there, unfortunately it slipped into the Hollywood trap instead of continuing along the Blair Witch Project route and letting viewers scare themselves.
Despite its flaws, Cloverfield debuted at the top of the US Box-office at number one with a record shattering $41 million. A cut and paste sequel shouldn’t be too far behind.
The Soundtrack, featuring Sean Kingston, Gorillaz and an exclusive track from Moby is available on iTunes in the United States.
Cloverfield
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Cloverfield, Statue of Liberty head in street
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