Review: Cloverfield (2008)

Title, Year:  Cloverfield (2008)

Director:  Matt Reeves

The fictional film packaged and presented as “found film footage” has become an increasingly inventive way for filmmakers to capture audience interest since the granddaddy of them all, “The Blair Witch Project” sold-out shows back in 1999. In an interesting note, these films are almost always promoted primarily via a grass-roots Internet campaign.  They rely solely on buzz and word of mouth, taking full advantage of our 4G connected, faster than lightning world.  With films such as “Paranormal Activity” parts I and II making major coin at the box office, this has become a cool Hollywood cliché…really a fixture of the industry.   These films are usually cheap to produce, can survive without major stars, and are marketed with very little expense and effort.  I say…what’s not to love?  The audience gets a great cheap thrill and the movies really work from a business perspective. 

Now, about “Cloverfield”…this is a very good movie.  Everything works.  The film sets up the drama by introducing us to a group of friends in their mid-twenties.  Rob, the average guy with the not so average job (his apartment overlooks Central Park and must cost a fortune).  Hud, Rob’s best friend and slight comic relief.  Beth, Rob’s ex.  Marlena, the object of Hud’s affections.  Rob’s brother and his girlfriend also factor into the equation.  Basically, Rob misses Beth and regrets that they are not together so much so that he can’t focus on the fact that he has a job waiting for him out of the country.  They are all at Rob’s going away party on fine New York evening. 

Just when you start to forget what movie you are watching, tragedy strikes.  The city becomes engulfed in turmoil caused by some unknown “thing”.  The friends that we’ve been introduced to all ban together to help Rob get across Manhattan, through all the madness, to try and save Beth. 

The director, Matt Reeves, and screenwriter, Drew Goddard, use several visual devices to stir your emotions and keep the tensions at a high level.  The “thing” is at first only shown through glimpses that are captured via Hud’s camera.  This is the “less is more” method of unveiling the creature and this works wonders for the suspense in the film.  There is also a clever use of old film footage from when Beth and Rob were together that keeps popping up in the film.  This adds to the dramatic weight of the mission in a wonderful way.

I can easily say the “Cloverfield” is by far my favorite “found film footage” movie.  The running time clocks in at about 75 minutes, so it doesn’t overstay its welcome.  The run time may be short, but the filmmakers make use of every single minute.  I highly recommend you watch this movie.