NAMELESS AND FAMELESS

With that out of the way, let's talk about 10 Cloverfield Lane!

 

10 Cloverfield Lane is a bit of an odd film, being credited as a sequel to the 2008 found-footage horror Cloverfield while also being hailed as "not a sequel" by producer J.J. Abrams. Confused? Yeah, so was I. And it doesn't get easier once the film ends. Speaking of, the film follows Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a woman who wakes up in a bunker created by Howard (John Goodman) following a car crash. As Michelle doubts Howard's story about an 'attack' that has left the air on the surface unbreathable, she tries to adjust to life in the bunker with Howard and a fellow survivor, Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.). However, as time goes by, both Michelle and Emmett begin to question Howard's intentions, and seek out the truth behind the stories he's telling.

 

First of all, the acting absolutely makes this film. John Gallagher Jr. is solid as the supporting character in this film, Emmett. He provides comic relief in scenes that need it, although that relief can be expertly twisted to increase the intensity of any given scene, due to the powerhouse performance given by John Goodman. Goodman's turn as Howard takes an already creepy thriller and makes it incredibly unsettling. Every time he appears on the screen, every muscle in your body will tighten up and you won't be able to exhale until the tension has died down (and in some cases, that never happens). But where there's a menacing bully, there must also be a convincing victim. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is understated in her performance as Michelle, with all attention likely going to Goodman. However, Winstead's character and her portrayal is one of the key components to the film's success. Without her reactions and her role as the audience's viewpoint, our representative within the film, the tension would be nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This leads me into my next major strength for the film; the screenplay. It is a very tight and controlled film, the kind where every single word is important. A great part of the screenplay is the characterisation; all three characters feel fresh and real. It is difficult to get a read of Howard, who we cannot trust and slowly discover more and more about, some of it contradictory, which sets up an odd precedent of truth and lies. Though an attempt is made to flesh out Emmett's character with some backstory, he is largely there to be that extra character, although he is very well-utilised. It is Michelle that lends the film most of its originality. It seems that many films these days struggle to find a balance with lead female characters; either they are outright badass and 'one of the boys' or they are overly-emotional and fit perfectly into the mould of stereotypical female film characters. 10 Cloverfield Lane manages to do a rare thing; it hits the middle. It gives us a real character. Michelle is emotional and sensitive where a person is expected to be, but manages to kick into gear and be both intelligent and active when her life is on the line. It is very refreshing to see a film where effort is put into making a character real, especially when that character is of a gender that doesn't seem to get written very well.

 

Now, something I wish to discuss briefly without spoilers is the ending. I have seen many complaints that the final 15-20 minutes of the film felt rushed an incredibly out-of-place, and these are fair comments. If one had seen Cloverfield and came in expecting a sequel, this is the ending one would be waiting for. While it may feel slightly rushed, it is far from out-of-place. In the context of the film, without a doubt it felt very separate and even like another movie. But in the context of the title, in the context of 10 Cloverfield Lane, it is a perfect fit and nothing else was to be expected. The film ends on a note that perfectly tees up a sequel, and yet the comments from everyone involved indicate that a sequel is optional and not planned at all. As we'll get into very soon, this isn't the only discrepancy between what the film has implied and what has been said by those involved.

 

A final thing I was to praise before getting into the problems is the music. Wow, the music really sets the tone of this film so well. Particularly in the opening 10 minutes of the film, all of the emotion of the film is carried through the music. It is even more important than the near non-existent dialogue. And throughout the film, the music plays a key role in building the tension and making the great moments, well, great.

 

Now, for those of you who haven't come here to hear about the Cloverfield connections and what you need to know as a Cloverfield fan, let me give you a quick summary. 10 Cloverfield Lane is a fantastic little thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. A fantastic, tight knit script meets incredible performances and an extremely intense atmosphere to both scare the living crap out of you and intrigue you. Don't worry if you haven't seen Cloverfield, there's no need. This film stands on its own, and is well worth the price of the ticket. When looking back on the year, there's every chance that 10 Cloverfield Lane could be sneaking into many Top Ten lists. However, if you have seen Cloverfield, you should also go and watch it. But not before reading the rest of the review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, here’s the key question. What is the connection between this film and the original Cloverfield?

 

Well, uh, there is none. Sorry, but yeah. There is no connection between 10 Cloverfield Lane and Cloverfield. Forget anything you've heard about it being a semi-sequel or a blood brother to Cloverfield; these films are completely unrelated.

 

The ending of the film that I spoke about before is the only thing similar to Cloverfield, but a deeper look into it reveals that it's just that; similar. Director Dan Trachtenberg has stated in interviews that this film does not take place in the same universe as Cloverfield. There we have it, confirmed by the director; not even the same universe. Cloverfield has not happened in this universe. So what you desperately need to understand going into this film is that Clover, our beloved New York-terrorising monster, is not in it. There's an interesting substitute, but a substitute nonetheless.

 

Now, let's talk about why I've decided this review needs to focus on my experience watching the film, and not what came after. I decided to do this because what came after was, well, intense anger. Having seen Cloverfield, 10 Cloverfield Lane and read comments by those involved, it is becoming increasingly clear that this was not supposed to be a Cloverfield film. Originally filmed under the title The Cellar, the lead performers were not informed until days prior to the first trailer that it would be called 10 Cloverfield Lane. Take into account the rushed nature of the ending (again, the only Cloverfield-like part of the film), and suddenly things are becoming clear, and they are not positive.

 

I loved the fact that this film got dropped on us out of nowhere. I thought it was a brilliant technique, and something I've always wanted to see. Make a film in secret and then suddenly go "Look, we made this! And it comes out really soon!". Add in the fact that it had Cloverfield in the name and was being pegged as a sequel, and the excitement doubles. But now, having seen the film and read Trachtenberg's comments, it doesn't seem so impressive. No, now it actually seems like they decided at the last second to chuck the Cloverfield name in, potentially alter the ending and play this film off as if it has something to do with Cloverfield. Which it doesn't. At all. Not sure if I mentioned that yet.

 

It's an incredibly frustrating thing. 10 Cloverfield Lane really is a fantastic film, but it has no business holding a name like that. It was deliberately misleading and stole money from fans of the first film under false pretences. There is no logic whatsoever behind the use of the Cloverfield name; it was a cheap tactic used to exploit fans of a film that has developed somewhat of a cult following and has had a sequel teased for 8 years now. Imagine if Independence Day: Resurgence came out and it was actually a film about people hiding in a bunker following an alien invasion, only for them to leave the bunker and see the aliens, who are somehow different to the ones from Independence Day. Oh, and it turns out Independence Day never happened. Resurgence is set in another universe. That is literally what has happened here with Cloverfield and 10 Cloverfield Lane. Fans were, quite frankly, duped and treated like shit. Personally, I do not appreciate that at all. But 10 Cloverfield Lane is a brilliant little film, and a shoehorned franchise connection through nothing other than the title isn't enough to change that.

 

Rating: 8.7