The Attic: ’10 Cloverfield Lane’ Review

10 cloverfield lane

10 cloverfield lane

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The first time I saw the trailer for 10 Cloverfield Lane I was giddy. Not only did it have the air of a horror movie, but it also featured John Goodman. I have loved that guy since I was a kid. From Dan Conner to Babe Ruth, and Fred Flintstone to everyone’s favorite bug killer, Delbert in Arachnophobia, there is something about him that has always triggered a soft spot in the Dark Princess and that alone was enough to peak my interest. I’ll admit I was more than surprised to see Cloverfield in the title, as this seemed like an entirely different story than the giant Godzilla knockoff that I had previously seen.

10 cloverfield lane

After it was announced, the biggest question that was on everyone’s mind was this: “Is it a direct sequel?” Many wondered how much this would have in common with 2008’s Cloverfield, but JJ Abrams confirmed that this movie would have a different location, different characters, and even different monsters. What did he mean by that? This trailer showed no sign of a giant monster, in fact, all we saw were three people down in a bunker trying to survive. But what were they trying to survive from? If there are different monsters, what kind are they? Cloverfield was a found-footage film about a large-scale attack on New York City by a giant alien of some sort. Many expected it to be a huge blockbuster, and while it did well in theaters, it was also met with mixed reviews. I liked the movie, but for me it was something to watch once and be done with.

10 cloverfield lane

10 Cloverfield Lane introduces Michelle first, as she is frantically packing up necessities in an attempt to leave her boyfriend. He calls on her way out of town, but she ignores his calls. While distracted, she gets into a car accident and later wakes up in a small cell, hooked up to an IV and chained to the wall. She soon meets Howard, the man who is presumably her captor. He is gruff, creepy, yet seemingly offended when she doesn’t show gratitude for the way he has cared for her. He informs her that she was in a car accident, and he brought her back to his bunker to save her life. He also bluntly tells her that the outside world is gone. The country was attacked, and no one outside this bunker has survived. Michelle has questions and can’t believe what he is telling her, but he doesn’t offer much in terms of details.

Soon she meets the other inhabitant, Emmett, who tells her that he has worked for Howard for years, helping him build this bunker. It has many rooms, and includes a working kitchen, bathroom, and a living room complete with a television and stereo. There is a large storage room full of food to last them a long time, but Michelle and Emmett begin to question whether Howard is telling them the truth. As they investigate further, they grow more suspicious of him and seek to escape the bunker.

10 cloverfield lane

I won’t spoil what happens or doesn’t happen in 10 Cloverfield Lane, but I will say that I loved what they did with it. Up until the very end, I was questioning Howard, the outside world, and almost everything else in the movie. A film that shares the Cloverfield name with such an in-your-face flop is something you might expect to be predictable but this one was such a fantastic departure. I found myself throwing out everything I knew about the last movie and having no idea where this was headed. It was a wonderful experience.

As for the cast, they did a really great job considering just three people had to carry the whole film. Michelle is played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ramona Flowers, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) and she is both relatable and believable in her role. John Gallagher Jr. (Jim Harper, The Newsroom) is Emmett, who is incredibly likable and heroic. Lastly, John Goodman is fantastic as Howard. He is so eerie at all times, and I kept wondering whether his intense manner was simply a practical approach to survival or whether it was due to more sinister reasons. As I said before, I love Goodman in everything I have ever seen him in, and that certainly helped my enjoyment of 10 Cloverfield Lane. He killed it with this role, and I’m so happy he was in it. As a fun side note, if you recognize the voice of Ben, Michelle’s boyfriend, who we only ever hear over the phone, that’s because he was played by Bradley Cooper.

Overall, the movie was a pleasant surprise and I definitely recommend it to anyone, whether you liked, loved, or hated Cloverfield.

Stay scared,
Dark Princess

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