Cloverfield

This is an interesting movie, a different take on the crash bang wallop monster blockbuster. This film takes it cue from Blair Witch Project in that it is all filmed from the protagonists point of view, via a handheld camera.

In this case, said camera is recording a farewell celebration for a New Yorker that is leaving for a job in Tokyo. Except the party gets interrupted by a rather large gatecrasher, an alien that proceeds to attack New York, a perfectly understandable sentiment. The film then cuts to documenting several of the partygoers as they first try to escape and then to rescue a mutual friend along the way.

This film is infused with a sense of panic and of helplessness among the partygoers. Perhaps this is informed by the events of 9/11 and the fact a lot of that was documented via camcorder. At first we see them cocky and confident at the party but then we see that facade crumble like so much cheesecake as the monster attacks their city. We see the soldiers using all their military might in an effort to beat the monster but it all comes to naught and they end up half destroying the city. I could take that as an analogy for the war in Iraq if I was in a mood to over-analyse a movie.

This film does make the faux-reality side come across as natural, as if it was real. This is done mainly by the actors making their lines flow naturally as if you think they're really there, that they're really fleeing for their lives. There's also a good couple of popcorn in the air jumpy bits which serve to further heighten the sense of panic. Although the characters come across as real they are really quite unlikeable and it's almost a relief when they croak. The pace of this movie is frenetic and your barely left with a moment to collect your thoughts, just as the protagonists aren't left with time to relax. This movie plays out in real time which adds to the tension. The monster is only really glimpsed every so often and there's no backstory to it which means the viewer is left to draw their own conclusions on whats going on.

This is a great movie, one that takes an interesting and different tack on the monster movie. Perhaps the camcorder style filming of it, which does get jumpy at times, might not be for everyone but if you persevere then this is a cracking movie.