10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Ari Drew
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Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher, Jr.
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg
It’s hard to believe that just two months ago the surprise trailer for 10 Cloverfield Lane, Dan Trachtenberg’s feature-length debut, was unleashed upon unsuspecting filmgoers. Featuring a notably modest setup that seemed to focus more on tension than outright monstrous destruction, the trailer naturally stirred up a great amount of excitement, anticipation, and even confusion. Was this the Cloverfield sequel horror fans have been waiting for? How did J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot keep a project like this under wraps?
Once Abrams officially announced the film as a “blood relative” to Matt Reeves’ 2008 hit as opposed to a direct sequel, plenty of gossip and speculation also begin to circulate regarding the original source of the film, a spec script for a thriller called The Cellar that had previously been unrelated to the mega monster movie franchise. But with all of this behind-the-scenes industry chatter pushed aside, only one significant question really remains now that the film has hit theaters: Is 10 Cloverfield Lane a good movie? That’s what audiences and fans of the original are really wanting to know, and I am happy to say upfront that, for many reasons, it’s a resounding “yes.”
The film follows Michelle (Winstead), a young woman who awakens to find herself held captive in a doomsday bunker after surviving a violent car accident. Despite her pleas to be released, her fanatical captor, Howard (Goodman), and friendly but simpleminded bunker-mate, Emmett (Gallagher Jr.), insist that a massive chemical attack has rendered the air unbreathable on the surface and that they are safer underground. Though initially incredulous, certain events ultimately cause Michelle to consider the possibility that perhaps Howard is not completely crazy after all.
Without providing any further details, I will just echo the current sentiment that 10 Cloverfield Lane is a film best enjoyed if you go in with little to no knowledge of further plot details. Whether you are a huge fan of the original or have never seen it, there is no denying that this thematic cousin is a tense and engaging ride. The script from Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken (with some later help from Damien Chazelle) is chock-full of suspense, executed by Trachtenberg in a masterful, deliberately paced manner. His directorial approach is claustrophobic and experiential, creating a confined sense in which even the audience feels held captive; this works wonders for both the dramatic and sci-fi/horror sensibilities of the film.
Though it is expectedly contained in scope, there is also something about Trachtenberg’s film that feels very expansive here, both thematically and emotionally. He makes full use of detail to deepen the mysteries and subtle connections within the Clover-verse (all of which work quite well) but also imbues 10 Cloverfield Lane with a solid emotional anchor all on its own. The characters he introduces feel wholly developed from the get-go, and he successfully establishes their story of survival, trust, and paranoia as one just as crucial — and dangerous — as what is going on at the surface.
The performances in 10 Cloverfield Lane greatly carry the film with finesse. Winstead delivers strongly and emotionally as Michelle, once again leading me to wonder why on Earth she is not more widely in demand for starring roles. Gallagher Jr.’s Emmett is a very likable and endearing touch, playing off of Michelle in a way that strengthens the emotional core of both characters. Goodman, however, is the MVP here, injecting a wild and fearsome unpredictability into the complex character of Howard. He is at times pitiable in his narrow-minded zeal but understandably impassioned at others, his fluctuating emotional quirks punctuated by a sense of uncomplicated humor. It is a treat to see Goodman in such fine form here, embodying this kind of fascinating and dynamic genre role with full enthusiasm.
Given the film’s origins, it was admittedly a fear of mine that 10 Cloverfield Lane would ultimately come across like a completely standalone dramatic entity that would test audiences’ patience as they wait for some kind of shoehorned monstrous reveal — solidifying suggested (though premature) complaints that Abrams was simply seeking to cash-grab by retooling the script. Luckily, the end product completely quashed these fears, as it never once feels like that kind of movie. The beauty of 10 Cloverfield Lane is in its ability to meld genres and make every aspect of the story cohere quite effectively, while also toying with audience expectations throughout. It does not feel like two separate films at all, but a cohesive, and novel entity: a claustrophobic character thriller with very pure, almost nostalgic, sci-fi underpinnings (think Hitchcock doing “The Twilight Zone”). Best of all, every aspect of the film still feels very much like a Cloverfield story, a feat that certainly has me intrigued for the possibility of future entries in this clearly expansive universe.
While 10 Cloverfield Lane does not necessarily reinvent the wheel, it does ingeniously blend familiar devices in a way that feels invigorating for mainstream genre films and franchises in a big way. It is refreshing to see a film that does this so seamlessly while managing to elicit emotional reactions and a sense of wonder in its audience, a notable accomplishment of some of the best cross-genre work. If the currently rumored third entry in the Clover-verse moves forward — and I hope it does — it would do well to continue expanding upon the impact that the universally mysterious and fantastical can have on the most fragile aspects of our imperfect human condition. Be they alien or otherwise, I say just keep the monsters coming.
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Film
Categorized:Reviews
