The new film10 Cloverfield Lane is a thriller movie with a plot so shrouded in mystery that it is difficult to review without spoiling major details. That being said, the things that can be discussed should definitely be mentioned.
For starters, the advertising for the film does an excellent job at keeping the twists and turns hidden while giving viewers just enough information to get them thinking. Each trailer appears to give away large amounts of the plot when, in reality, they only tease minor parts of the film. This adds a sense of mystery and leads the viewer to wonder just what is going on in this movie.
Without spoiling anything, it is safe to say that the story of this movie is packed with potential from the very beginning. A surprisingly strong opening sequence leads into the first moment of tension, one that doesn’t drag on for too long and feels incredibly realistic. Being the film snob that I am, I found myself thinking about what the main character should do in this situation, only to have her do just that.
If anyone shares my bad habit of telling the characters what they should do in a tense situation, then they will be happy to know that every obvious choice in a suspenseful moment is the one the character will go with. The characters feel realistic in their actions and come to conclusions around the same time as the audience does. There isn’t a huge knowledge gap between the characters and the audience, and that feels very refreshing.
Speaking of the characters, the characters in 10 Cloverfield Lane are some of the most realistic you will find in theaters these days. Instead of mucking up the plot with poorly told back-story, the background of each character is told in natural conversation, and each piece of information is relevant at one time or another. Nothing ever feels forced, and there is a reason the audience is told what they are told.
Even so, some mysteries go unsolved because of this technique of revealing back-story. This isn’t a particularly bad thing, though. Presenting a story in this way leaves the audience to fill in the blanks themselves, and as a result the story becomes more personal.
Another aspect of the characters that deserves mention is the wonderful cast and how much talent they bring to the screen in this film. John Goodman is phenomenal in his role, so much so that any details given would spoil the greatest parts of his character. Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays an extremely believable and intelligent main character, one the audience will have no trouble projecting themselves onto, especially towards the beginning.
John Gallagher Jr., even though his character is the least interesting of the three, still manages to put a unique twist on the typical comedy relief-type of character that Hollywood seems attached to.
As far as the question of 10 Cloverfield Lane’s connection to 2008’s Cloverfield, I can’t confirm or deny any relation. What I can say, though, is that fans of that movie will love this one as well. In fact, they may even love it more. The aspects in which Cloverfield comes up short, such as character development and suspense, are those in which 10 Cloverfield Lane excels. It also helps that Cloverfield’s producer, J. J. Abrams, is the director of 10 Cloverfield Lane.
Overall, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a film that does the thriller genre a well-needed justice. It will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time, and you will leave the theater thinking on the mysteries that it presents for hours, maybe even days, after seeing it.
10 Cloverfield Lane gets four reels.
