Cloverfield (2008)
Written by: Drew Goddard
Starring: Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman.
This film is a very much "you re part of the sotry" experience. Filmed on a hand held camera, but please ignore any thoughts relating it to Blaire Witch Project. While that was an interesting experiment with the idea, badly followed through, this is clever, effective and evocative. The key to making a film on hand held look like amature work but still be good, is that it cannot actually be done by someone who doesn't know what they're doing.
I did find the beginning a little annoying with the erratic movement, but when you need it to be still to concentrate on something that's happening or to see the picture clearly, it is. The special effects are used perfectly and while the actors maybe annoying good looking New Yorkers, they are also capable.
It starts at someone's going away party for a new job in Japan, with the usual social goings on, people gossiping and angst and then things kick off. It's all from the perspective of the man with the camera and the small group of partygoers who stick together. You catch glimpses of something terrible that has happened to the city and you are one of them and all you can do is try and run for your life.
There are no explanations for exactly what has happened or why, as those are the answers you can only discover afterwards, if you manage to survive. It's genuinely scary and relaistic and with any of the greatest monster movies, you never really get a clear view of what it is. But you really don't need to.
This is how to make something look like a home video and still be something worth watching. The art of the movies is making something you've created look like it's just a part of reality.
Also the writer Drew Goddard had also penned some of the best episodes of Buffy in season 7 and several Angel ones too.




















