"10 Cloverfield Lane" dropped out of nowhere. No one saw it coming, and the production company kept it under wraps under the title of Valencia. It worked well to create the hype behind this semi-sequel to the low budget, found footage horror film about aliens invading Manhattan. It’s not a direct sequel, and it’s not in the same universe but the film is definitely a blood relative of the original. And the surprise of this being released is all the better to shock you with, my dears.
"10 Cloverfield Lane" is loaded with everything a psychological thriller needs to shatter your nerves — and then kicks it up a notch. Claustrophobic and darkly humorous, this film will make your skin crawl. We’re introduced to the world before the “Invasion” (which the film keeps us guessing about) and what happens when Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), our protagonist, crashes and wakes up tied up in a bunker. Eventually, in walks Howard (John Goodman) who’s spent years as a doomsday prepper for whatever the worst is to come. He doesn’t offer Michelle many answers besides, “I’m going to keep you alive.” The film isn’t about the doomsday event; it’s about the interpersonal dynamics of being caught trapped inside a bunker with a potential madman who won’t let you leave. Is Howard a psychopath holding Michelle captive toward his own degenerate ends? Or has he truly saved her from armageddon? Or maybe…both? The film skillfully dances nimbly between explanations, creating doubt and maintaining its balance even as it happily shakes the audience off theirs.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead ("The Thing," "Smashed") is excellent as Michelle, self-sufficient without being superhuman, her eyes alert to any opportunity to escape. This will satisfy anyone who has wonders about a female led horror film and are tired of seeing women as victims. Michelle holds her own. And as Howard, John Goodman gives one of his best performances in years. When he walks on camera, you can’t take your eyes off him no matter how much you want to. An impressive blend of an invasive mirth and warm friendliness yet oppressively twisted bravado oozes out of Goodman. As supporting principals is John Gallagher Jr. (known for Short Term 12) as Emmett, a handyman who helped build the bunker and came to escape whatever was going on above. Gallagher is entertaining and the much needed relief this film needs. (Bradley Cooper has a brief off camera cameo as the phone voice of Ben.)
Is Howard lying about what's outside or telling the truth? Will Michelle and Emmett be able to escape? I’ll never tell. That’s all spoilers worthy, but some serious congratulations to first time director Dan Trachtenberg. He definitely knows how to get the tension to rise and have us jumping in our seats at even the littlest noises that go bump in the night.
All in all, look forward to what these people are putting out. This is a solid film that ratchets up the suspense and will have you on edge from beginning to end. It’s a clever psychological thriller that serves as a spiritual successor to the 2008 film. If more thrillers and even horror follows this route of filmmaking, we’ll have better movies. It’s worth the price of the ticket.
4/5
