Going into 10 Cloverfield Lane I expected the continuation of, or a story similar to, its 2008 predecessor with its handicam, found-footage and humans caught in the crossfire between aliens destroying New York City and the U.S. Army trying to stop. If you're expecting that blockbuster. If you're expecting Cloverfield, then you're going to come out either disappointed or confused.
10 Cloverfield Lane is nothing like Cloverfield. It doesn't follow typical sequel protocol, where a film takes the beats of the film before it and adds a new story with the same structure, so that the film feels different, but still familiar to the first. 10 Cloverfield Lane does none of that.
10 Cloverfield Lane is nothing like Cloverfield. It doesn't follow typical sequel protocol, where a film takes the beats of the film before it and adds a new story with the same structure, so that the film feels different, but still familiar to the first. 10 Cloverfield Lane does none of that.
Here is the trailer for Cloverfield.
And here is the trailer for 10 Cloverfield Lane.
For the most part, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a psychological thriller; an abduction story. A human-abducting-humans and locking them all in a bunker together because "something happened" out there and "everyone's dead" and "it's not safe - you're only safe in here with me" abduction story. Not the other kind.
John Goodman does a wonderful job of portraying Howard, a character much more complex than he seems, whose words it's hard to tell whether or not to trust. Emmett seems to trust him. Emmett's known Howard forever. But why did Howard run Michelle's car off the road and lock her in the bunker with them? The stifling claustrophobia of the bunker, every whispered word between Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) potentially overheard, and the tension, the ticking clock as you wonder just what Howard wants with Michelle builds slowly and well.
John Goodman does a wonderful job of portraying Howard, a character much more complex than he seems, whose words it's hard to tell whether or not to trust. Emmett seems to trust him. Emmett's known Howard forever. But why did Howard run Michelle's car off the road and lock her in the bunker with them? The stifling claustrophobia of the bunker, every whispered word between Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) potentially overheard, and the tension, the ticking clock as you wonder just what Howard wants with Michelle builds slowly and well.
The Spoiler MineField
John Goodman and Mary Elizabeth Winstead in 10 Cloverfield Lane Honestly, the movie is a minefield of spoilers. There is no wonder it was such a highly-guarded secret, shot under the title "Valencia", until the trailer popped up online only months ago with its brand new name.
And I'm grateful that those secrets were so well guarded. You will honestly enjoy the film more if you don't know what they are. I spent a lot of the film wondering whether or not I had been mistaken. Was this a sequel to Cloverfield? Or was I mistaken entirely and it was a just film, albeit also produced by J.J. Abrams, that had used a similar name?
Don't enter expecting an action-horror blockbuster, like its predecessor, though there is definitely action in this thriller to keep you happy. Do go into it expecting a slower burn, but a gripping one.
Are there even aliens in this film?
Don't let anyone spoil you. Go see it and find out.
And I'm grateful that those secrets were so well guarded. You will honestly enjoy the film more if you don't know what they are. I spent a lot of the film wondering whether or not I had been mistaken. Was this a sequel to Cloverfield? Or was I mistaken entirely and it was a just film, albeit also produced by J.J. Abrams, that had used a similar name?
Don't enter expecting an action-horror blockbuster, like its predecessor, though there is definitely action in this thriller to keep you happy. Do go into it expecting a slower burn, but a gripping one.
Are there even aliens in this film?
Don't let anyone spoil you. Go see it and find out.
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