Cloverfield
One of the most anticipated films of 2008 was definitely ‘Cloverfield’, mainly due to the secrecy surrounding the production of the film. The cast were even auditioned using specially written scenes or scenes from producer J. J. Abram’s television series ‘Lost’. The secrecy continued by constantly changing the working title of the film, and does anyway even know now why the film was titled ‘Cloverfield’? Due to the lack of details released about the film I was very intrigued to see director Matt Reeves latest film.
‘Cloverfield’ is one of the few movies where you become totally captured by the story and feel as if you are a part of the film. This feeling is created through the entire movie being shot with HD handheld cameras and amazing special effects. Shot as a home movie you follow a group of friends in their early twenties as they try to escape New York when disaster strikes. I did become quite disorientated at times as the camera work is very shaky as they run through the streets of New York. If you get motion sickness then beware! To add to authenticity of the film it is 80 minutes long which is the same length as the tape in the camera.
It was a pleasure to watch such an original film however the ending was very predictable, although I’m not too sure how else they could have ended the film. I would definitely recommend watching ‘Cloverfield’ as it was an incredible experience however don’t think I could watch it more than once, the suspense and anticipation is what makes the movie. I hope that despite rumours to produce a squeal that J. J. Abram realises he created a unique film and that it should be kept this way!
