10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

After some truly miserable entries, I needed to find something better. I know, I have brought much of this on myself with my selections, but, I am still due for a winner. In keeping with a more Sci-Fi driven theme to get me back into the swing of things, I have chosen the 2016 surprise sequel 10 Cloverfield Lane as my next entry.

Plot/ After getting in a car accident, a woman is held in a shelter with two men, who claim the outside world is affected by a widespread chemical attack.

I will be honest; I thought that the found footage franchise Cloverfield was gone. That is until I saw the trailer for this one. When I rented it, I had no idea what to expect, as I could not imagine what the premise would have to do with the source storyline. After watching this one, I have to say that everything worked tremendously well and this approach to continuing the storyline was perfect. This one featured some outstanding performances within the minimalist cast, a dark and heavy atmosphere, and one of the better storylines to grace the screen in some time. Everything about this film kept me engaged throughout and made me want to immerse myself within the mythos. In the end, this movie really works and is a must see. John Goodman is amazing and the film is one of the best Sci-Fi entries I have seen in some time.

Cloverfield (2008)

With Halloween inching closer, it reminds me of just how awesome this time of the year is. The weather is cooling, the nights are growing longer, and there is so much creepiness surrounding everything out there. I love this time of the year, as I feel so alive everyday. Even the voices in my head feel that way, as they seem to quiet some, as I delve into the myriad of Horror and Sci-Fi that surrounds me. My next selection for this weekend is the 2008 monster flick Cloverfield.  

Plot/ five New Yorkers take you on a trip through the streets of New York City fas a strange monster is terrorizing the Big Apple.

Cloverfield is such an interesting flick, at times even conjuring similar parallels to the real life terror that NYC has endured throughout history. Of course, that is done is a subtle yet fascinating way, truly great work. There was realism to this one that echoed throughout, and the use of the handheld camera was a perfect choice for this type of flick. The action scenes were solid, the effects worked and the use of a monster was so much more than one could have expected. Yes, I did grow up on a steady diet of Godzilla with Super Host on Saturdays, so I have seen my share of bad monster movies. There was one thing that brought it down a little, the short run time, but that is only a small flaw. In the end, Cloverfield is one of the better monster movies to come out in some time and one that should be seen. Yes, some may not like the camera work, which is understandable, but even they should try it.