10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
***Spoilers avoided***
In 2009, I watched a film called ‘Cloverfield’ (2008). It was an alien-invasion film in the ‘found footage’ genre. I didn’t mind it at all, and though it was hardly landmark cinema, it was good enough for a TV watch. Then I noticed this film, billed as part of ‘The Cloverfield franchise’. As I don’t usually bother with sequels, I waited until it was on TV last week, and recorded it.
The story here could run alongside the first film, as it concentrates on people who survive the initial attack. But the good news (or not) is that you don’t have to have watched the original, as its relevance to this film is minimal, to say the least. The 2016 film could be about any catastrophic event, whether a nuclear war, plague, or aliens arriving. But be ready for a fairly long haul, as the cast is minimal, to say the least. Mainly centred around three characters on one reasonably small set, it depends heavily on the script, and claustrophobia, to work at any level.
John Goodman stars, as Howard. He is a conspiracy nut, and a survivalist who has spent many years constructing a safe bunker below his farm. Stocked with enough supplies to last for years, and a system to filter the air, he is ready to outlast any doomsday scenario. He is a man of manners, who demands them in return, as well as respect for his preparations, and foresight.
Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has fallen out with her boyfriend. Tearfully, she leaves the house, intending to drive off to a new life in another town. But he keeps calling her on the car phone, distracting her as she drives along a remote dark road. She is involved in a serious car crash, and everything goes black.
Unsurprisingly, (for me at least) she comes around to find herself in a dank cellar room, chained to a bed with an IV in her arm, and an injured leg. Howard appears. He offers her food, and then explains that there has been an incident, perhaps an alien invasion, maybe an enemy attack. She will be looked after by him, and cannot leave his bunker for her own safety. She then discovers another person there, a young man called Emmett (John Gallagher) who knows Howard from old, and actually came into the bunker at his own request.
So, life begins for the three of them. bathroom breaks and showers when instructed, food prepared by Howard, and lots of playing of board games, doing jigsaws, and reading of magazines. Michelle wants out, refusing to believe Howard’s story of the catastrophe, and she tries to enlist the help of Emmett to escape. Between them, they try to outwit the unstable Howard, pretending to be happy to be there as they work on their plan. Meanwhile, disturbing facts are discovered about Howard’s past, and he may not be the man he appears to be after all. So, spoiler-free, that’s about it. I am sure you can imagine what happens next, as it could easily have been a 30-minute episode of the old Twilight Zone series.
Is it worth watching, if only for Goodman?
No.
Is it thrilling, with an engaging heroine?
No.
Is the end satisfyingly different, or unusual?
No.
Do the other two cast members make you care about their fate?
No.
Have you seen it all before, in so many other similar stories?
Yes.
Was it more or less a waste of 104 minutes of my life?
Yes.
This trailer lasts for 103 seconds.
That’s all you need to see. The whole thing, in less than two minutes.
Thank you for that…. I think I will save my minutes for something more worthwhile!!!
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You will be glad you did, Patch! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’ve never seen a found footage film, and have no real desire to watch one.
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I would highly recommend ‘The Blair Witch Project’ which is every bit as good as the critics thought it was at the time. Especially the ending.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I don’t know which of was the worse off for watching the screen last evening. You watching this and the other dud you reviewed today or my catching par of Knocked up while cooking a chocolate souffle.
Warmest regards,
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At least you had a souffle at the end of it. I just went to bed. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Funny review. I liked it more than you. Except for the ridiculous ending.
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I think they left the ending open for a third film. I won’t be watching that one… 🙂
Best wishes, Pete. x
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I have to agree with your review Pete. I wasn’t a huge fan of the original and while I love John Goodman I thought this sequel was just “meh”.
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Thanks, Kim. Glad to hear you agree.
The original was ‘so-so’, and this one was ‘so what?’
Best wishes, Pete.
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Nope not for me, didn’t like the first one either.
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You are missing nothing, FR. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, I enjoyed this to a degree, even though I never saw the first one…that said, completely understand that it’s two hours of “OK” cinema, and since there are so many great films to discover, not worth making the effort
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Thanks, John. Too slow for me, with a very predictable ending. At least it was on TV! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Agree, Pete…and yes, thank god we didn’t pay $$$ for it!
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The one thing I’ll say about this film is that the way they ended it was pretty unexpected. Without spoilers it’s hard to say more. But, I can’t recall it being hinted at. John Goodman just says that there has been nuclear fallout.
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I thought the title gave the best clue about what was ‘out there’, Nicole.
Anyone who saw the first film was going to have a good idea anyway. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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True. 😋
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I guess my problem was that I HATED the 1st film. I couldn’t even get through it. That shaky cam garbage gets me every time. 😴🤢😵😩
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‘Found footage’ can be incredibly annoying, I agree. However, I take my hat off to two of them. ‘The Blair Witch Project’, and ‘ .REC’. They both get me, every time. I only watched the original ‘Cloverfield’ when it was shown on TV, over a year after it came out in cinemas here.
Best wishes, Pete.
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My son told me enough about the first film. Thanks.
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The first one is very different, and nowhere near as dull. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I don’t disagree with anything you say about this film, Pete.
But I rather enjoyed it.
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Cheers, Ian. Goodman is skilled enough to hold his own, but I thought it was a one-trick pony that could have been a shorter film. (Much shorter, like the trailer. 🙂 )
Best wishes, Pete.
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