Cloverfield Review
by: The-Muffin-Man

The following is an article that I wrote for The Eagle Eye, my school newspaper.

Cloverfield
by: BRIAN HSU
Page Editor

“Cloverfield,” the enigmatic film behind the mysterious trailer that debuted last year, crashed through theaters 1-18-08. Clever marketing produced huge hype prior to the release, and surprisingly the movie does not disappoint.

Reminiscent of “The Blair Witch Project” (1999), “Cloverfield” captures a monster attack on New York City in real-time through the shaky viewfinder of a digital camera. You watch firsthand as a group of partygoers attempt to escape from the ravaged city and the creature that has descended upon it.

An abrupt 84 minutes, “Cloverfield” is over and done with faster than you can say “what is that thing?!” The movie is wholly entertaining for its duration, but feels incredibly unfinished at its conclusion.

Despite its brevity, the film is a thrilling adventure that takes a bite out of the Big Apple as well as your imagination. It expands beyond the ‘big monster vs. helpless military’ theme found in predecessors of the genre and paints a disturbing picture palpable on a very human level. Though irritating at times, the unsteady camera generates a sense of unique suspense, and the lack of big-name actors provides a more “real life” feel. This is no cheesy Godzilla remake, this is in-your-face monster warfare that persists till the sudden end.

Though much of the mystery that shrouded the film’s plot has yet to be lifted, it still packs a considerable punch despite its short run time. Unless you own a home theater system the size of a movie theater, do not wit for the DVD: only the silver screen can hold “Cloverfield.”