I admit, I had forgotten that Bad Robot was working on another Cloverfield flick. Thus, having never seen the trailer, I stepped into an IMAX press screening of 10 Cloverfield Lane, expecting some crazy monsterzilla type sequel. The movie that I was presented with was a delightful surprise and a refreshing new feature for fans of horror genre-benders.
Dan Trachtenberg directs this thrilling yet intimate story of one woman’s terrible ordeal through a mire of known and unknown dangers. The main character, Michelle, is played by the adorable Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and she delivers, not only as a believable heroine in this tale of terror, but also as a fantastic action starlet. In fact, all of the performances are fabulous and stealing each scene, as always, is the indomitable John Goodman. Seriously, when Goodman does scary, he does it with a relish that is beyond creepy. No doubt the audience will love the heck out of him in this film as the unstable Howard. Along with Emmett, played by John Gallagher Jr., there are really only three characters in the story. This adds to the intimate and independent film feel of the movie, and works beautifully to add more impact to the progression of events.
If you’re looking for scares, you won’t be disappointed. And if you love tense psychological suspense, there’s a healthy dose of that too! The movie starts out in a slow burn pace, with satisfying reveals and occasional thrills along the way. The bottom drops out in the third act and the movie goes full throttle into an amazing pay off. That’s not to say that the first two acts are boring or require patience. It’s in these two thirds of the movie where the horror really plays out. It’s unpredictable, and oddly playful. This is due to the fact that the filmmakers chose to steer clear of the exploitation film vibe, despite the vulnerable circumstances of our leading lady. Surprisingly, there is a good amount of dark humor injected into the story, mostly by Goodman. Don’t be surprised if you let loose a chuckle or two. The movie is quirky, and subtle ironies are interlaced within the tension to make the dramatic moments feel less theatrical.
A majority of the movie takes place inside of a very well stocked bunker. The set design team did an excellent job creating an interesting and intricate bunker interior, boasting plenty of nods to the 80s and 90s. It’s a fitting stage for our three characters as they struggle to manage their situation. And once the action comes into play, the visual effects and sound design are absolutely flawless and jaw-dropping. At this point the story completely loses that indie film feel, and blooms into something much bigger and bolder.
Unique and engaging, 10 Cloverfield Lane is the caliber of inventive genre that audiences deserve. It takes on familiar survival-horror territory with a brilliant new perspective and tone. I enjoyed it immensely and walked out of the theater flushed with excitement. I hope you go and see this fabulous feature from the Cloverfield universe. I know you’ll get a kick out of it!
Thanks for reading,
Diva Del Mar
