10 Cloverfield Lane

I heard about this sequel in much the same way as I heard about the first film. It was the same time of year and the film's release date was quite close. I had heard rumors about a sequel to "Cloverfield" but it didn't seem likely as more time passed. There was speculation that a sequel could feature the same event from another point of view. In the first movie, there are a lot of people recording the attack such as on the Brooklyn Bridge. It was apparent from the trailer for "10 Cloverfield Lane" that this was a standalone sequel and depending on how well it does, this could usher in a new kind of franchise filmmaking. As for the film itself, it has the same kind of mystery and the same level of suspense as its predecessor but the humor, cinematography and realism that I loved most about "Cloverfield" was absent. That is on purpose though.

I love when the filmmakers prevent you from seeing the story from outside the protagonist's eyes in order to entertain and uphold suspense. As with Michelle, we go from distrust to acceptance to regret when it comes to Howard. This is a classic scenario of a character stuck between a rock and a hard place. There is danger within and possibly even worse to fear outside. That Polaroid of Brittany and Howard is pretty frightening and I also loved anxiety of the scene where the characters are having that guessing game. If you can keep all the members of the audience in the dark, you have a successful thriller on your hands. I was kept guessing throughout the film and I hope that is the case with everyone who goes to see this show. I like when plot points are introduced offhandedly but then come to make all the difference later in the story. The bottle of cocktail is one example. Some of the plot points that I thought would be important ended up being inconsequential so that is even better.

The cast members all did pretty well but John Goodman carries this movie. He gave a believable and frightening performance. I was surprised to learn that Bradley Cooper is the voice of Ben. Apparently, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher, Jr. did not know during filming that this movie was connected to "Cloverfield" but they had a hunch. Their suspicions were not confirmed until just before the release of the trailer when they learned the film's title. I wasn't expecting an outright sequel to "Cloverfield" when I saw the trailer for this movie. The elements that made the first film special though were absent such as the found-footage angle and T.J. Miller. Producers J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Drew Goddard and Matt Reeves intentionally did something different while still maintaining the same level of secrecy and suspense. Those attributes however are more common in filmmaking than the realism and style of "Cloverfield". Something less common is the direction that this franchise is headed towards. It has me interested because they could make a variety of standalone films where each installment reveals more about this alien invasion. That is a very unique and profitable idea because the possibilities are vast.

3.5 Stars