10 Cloverfield Lane
/"Crazy is building your ark after the flood has already come."
Filmology Rating: 3.1 out of 4
A young woman named Michelle wakes up after a terrible accident to find that she is locked in a bunker with a doomsday prepper named Howard. Howard insists that he saved her life and then tells her that a massive chemical attack has rendered the outside air unbreathable and their only hope of survival is to remain inside. To add to the situation, they are accompanied by Emmitt who claims that he came willingly and fought his way to be inside of the bunker. Uncertain what to believe and with Howard’s menacing demeanor, causes Michelle to determine that she must escape at any cost.
Right off the bat, I have to say that I have been looking to this movie for quite some time now. A lot of people were looking forward to a sequel from the 2008 movie “Cloverfield”. While 10 Cloverfield Lane is somewhat of a sequel or a branch off of that movie, it is completely different and in a very good way. This has to be one of the best slow building psychological thrillers that I have seen in a long time. There are so many intense and nerve racking scenes throughout the entire movie that it will have you on the edge of your seat waiting for what will happen next.
To start off, the characters in this movie were fantastic. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, and John Gallagher Jr, are essentially the only characters in this movie and they were all spot on. Each one of them might have delivered their best performances to date. Each character had an interesting backstory that made me truly invested in each of their lives. I wanted to know more about each character and their backstories. What events led them to this moment and also why are these characters the way they are? I’m specifically talking about John Goodman’s character. Howard was one of the most unsettling characters that I have ever watched. He was truly disturbing, creepy, and fascinating all at the same time. I was blown away at just how much he sold this portrayal because it was so believable. I honestly couldn’t get enough of this character.
Adding to the unsettling tone that Howard brings to the movie, the music and setting create so much more suspense and mystery to the situation. Trapped 40 feet below ground level in a doomsday shelter, there is a definite sense of confinement. Is she really down here for her own protection or is she a prisoner? Being trapped in a confined space, no matter how big or “homey” this bunker may seem, there is a claustrophobic feeling that follows. Adding to the uncomfortable feeling is the great score by composer Bear McCreary. This was his first major score in the movie business and he did an excellent job with how well it works with the feeling of the movie.
Now if you are wondering how does 10 Cloverfield Lane relate to the original “Cloverfield” movie? Well it does but it doesn’t… I really can’t say anything more than that without giving anything away. However, that shouldn’t be the main thing you should be focusing on during the movie. The real thing that you should be focusing on is the character development of each character and the struggle to live in a confined area with someone you don’t know. No matter how scary the outside world might be, the real monsters might be living right next to you.
Rating: See It
-Nick
At this point in the history of cinema it has become almost essential that filmmakers blend genres to create films that are fresh and unique. With 10 Cloverfield Lane, director Dan Trachtenberg has produced a methodically paced thriller that exists vaguely within the realm of science fiction. From the beginning, the film centers on a young woman named Michelle, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. An opening scene of purely visual storytelling informs us that she is leaving her life with her fiancé behind. Not long after leaving she is involved in a car crash and wakes up chained to a pipe in an empty room. She soon discovers that she is currently sitting in an underground bunker owned by an older man named Howard, played by John Goodman. Also staying in the bunker is a young man by the name of Emmett, played by John Gallagher Jr., who claims to have come to the bunker by choice. Once the premise is laid out it is up to the characters and the viewer to decipher what is true and what is false. The entire films centers around its three main characters, Michelle, Emmet, and Howard. All three actors turn in excellent performances that may not be Oscar caliber, but they are well above the average. Perhaps the greatest strength of the film is its ability to not only maintain an excruciating degree of suspense, but also its ability to shift tonally throughout the film. At some points in the movie you will find yourself on the edge of your seat, while at other points you may be completely relaxed. This feat is not an easy one to pull off. Another aspect of 10 Cloverfield Lane I greatly appreciated was its openness in spite of its mystery. Although there is an overriding mystery to the film I won’t spoil, the film does provide the viewer with the important materials that will be of use later. Very few events or actions in the film come completely out of left field. In spite of the films careful attention to detail and suspense, the film does falter a bit in the end. Some choices in the third act do give the film more of a B movie horror vibe in place of the methodically paced thriller. Nevertheless, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a welcome surprise and an excellent thriller.
Rating: See It
-Tyler