“We live in a time of great fear. Having a movie that is about something as outlandish as a massive creature attacking your city, allows people to process and experience that fear in a way that is incredibly entertaining and incredibly safe. I want to have that experience myself - to go to a movie that is about something larger than life and hyper-real, and Cloverfield certainly is”- J.J.Abrams, producer.
‘Dracula. Godzilla. Freddy Krueger. Foreboding, violent monsters in human, animal or alien form, who wreak havoc on an innocent public, have been drawing audiences to theaters since the silent error, offering catharsis from personnel anxiety and serving as metaphors for the general fears plaguing the culture during a particular error.’ Cloverfield is no different. It plays on the fears of today’s society. Paramount Pictures presents the highly anticipated film Cloverfield, directed by Matt Reeves. The film is written by Drew Godded, and produced by J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk. This film has been rated PG13 for violence, terror and disturbing images.
Cloverfield is a film about a new kind of monster, filmed with a different approach to Godzilla. The audience is introduced to the unique design of a non-existing creature brought to life for the first time on the big screen. The monster is seen from a camcorder point of view. Aside from this monster terrorizing the people of New York, there are also parasites scattered around the city sent to terrorize the characters on a one on one basis. This serves the purpose of the unexpected jumps and scares that horror fans have to come to love and expect.
The film is centered around a group of young adults (Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, Mike Vogel) at a going away party for their friend Rob (Michael Stahl-David). The catalyst begins when the core group runs outside after hearing a loud commotion. The terror begins as they discover that the head of the Statue of Liberty has been knocked to the ground. This is seen through the viewfinder of their friend who was assigned to document the entire nights event with a camcorder. The entire film is shot through the perception of this point of view. There are no reverse shots; you see what the camera sees.
This style of filming “much like the Blair Witch Project” creates an intensity for the audience leaving them wanting more. They want to know what is happening off frame. “There is something very scary about what you can’t see,” Reeves said about his choice of camera shots. “It becomes all about what your mind fills in.” You are witnessing the destruction of Manhattan and seeing the characters reaction as it is happening. You are experiencing the horror with these people. Because of this, you feel like you are right there- you are now a part of the movie.
I think that the viewers will be satisfied with this movie as a whole. It focuses on the on going relationship between the characters, as well as their reaction to the monster attacks.
Overall, I feel the film was brilliantly executed by both the cast and the crew.
As I was leaving the theater, I stopped to observe and listen to the audience’s reaction. The room was silent for quite some time. Then people started saying, “I really liked it”, “It was really good.” I then heard the two gentlemen walking out beside me, and listened to their conversation, one of them said “did you think it was good, or really, really Good?” And he responded, “that was really, really good.”
After seeing the film it makes you want to check to make sure that NYC is still okay... It is. (Cloverfield NYC Photos Below)
-Michelle Romano
Scars Magazine/Zombiefriends.com
