Although films like The Blair Witch Project"" and ""Cannibal Holocaust"" pioneered the use of ""found video camera footage"" as a hook for their film, rarely has the technique been used to such great effect as in ""Cloverfield,"" the new monster movie from producer J.J. Abrams. If you can control your stomach as the camera whips around and your point of view follows, a fantastic cinematic experience awaits you.
""Cloverfield"" follows the experience of six friends trying to survive a monster attack in Manhattan, recorded by one of them on videotape. The group must escape a collapsing bridge, a fight in the subway tunnels and a collapsing high-rise to save one of their friends who was trapped after the initial attack.
""Cloverfield"" is an attraction to the highest degree. That's not a good or bad thing, but it should be understood walking in that anyone expecting more than a monster movie will leave dissatisfied. The characters often make bad decisions that should probably doom them, but those bad decisions also make the film more exciting for viewers. Had ""Cloverfield"" been made in 3-D or on a motion simulator, it could easily fit in a theme park. It would be one hell of a ride.
Most of the actors are good, but predictably, some of them will be lost over the course of the film. Hud, the cameraman, played by T.J. Miller, adds some much-needed comedy after very tense situations. Michael Stahl-David as Rob and Odette Yustman as Beth play a good ""will-they-or-won't-they"" couple, and it's believable that Rob would risk his life and friends to save Beth.
But the main attraction of the film is the monster and the special effects. Abrams and director Matt Reeves create a creature that's equally terrifying and mysterious. Even if it were possible to describe the monster (it isn't), the creature's appearance would supply enough shock to make the film exciting for any viewer. Reeves, directing his first major film, does a lot with a relatively small budget. He and his special effects team should be congratulated for bringing a great vision to the screen without the kind of technology and money used on films like ""Transformers"" and ""Spider-Man."" Reeves doesn't compromise in his directing, and every scene after the monster attacks is exciting and fast-paced.
If the film has a weakness, it's the camerawork. While effective, the constant motion and jostling of the camera takes some time to get used to. You'll either adapt to it or leave the theater from motion sickness.
""Cloverfield"" is a cinematic experience unlike anything most people have ever seen. Terrifying and shocking at times, its quick pace never lets the audience settle into a rhythm, providing a few moments that will make audience members lurch in their seats and make others yell out loud. After all the Internet hype and fanfare, ""Cloverfield"" actually delivers on its promise, like any good ride should.
