When I saw the trailer for 10 Cloverfield Lane, I’m sure I rolled my eyes. After asking if it was a remake/follow-up and hearing yes, I even commented to my friend with me that day, “Oh, no, well, then I cannot possibly see this because I would be completely lost.” Yes, a sarcastic tone accompanied my remark. I’ll admit, though, John Goodman’s presence on the screen intrigued.
Then, when the buzz came, it caught my eye. And surprise, surprise, but this film was getting good buzz. Really good buzz. This was more than just a Certified Fresh Rotten Tomato rating; this buzz was coming from multiple sources. Reputable sources. These sources chimed in unison: don’t read too much before seeing this film; the mystery is too good to risk it being spoiled. So when the same friend I’d seen the trailer with said he was free for a film soon, I chose 10 Cloverfield Lane. Neither of us was disappointed.
The film starts quickly, diving headfirst into a frantic scene of a lone character, becoming clear as to what is happening as that scene closes and the camera zooms into what is left on the counter. Almost as quickly, just as we are catching up to her story, we are jolted into our next setting, where most of the rest of the movie takes place. I appreciated how it jumped into the meat of the plot without too much setup. I appreciated even more how quickly the plot moved. Never did the story feel to drag. The viewer is awarded with a chance to take a breath, but only for a brief moment before the movie’s plot twists unexpectedly and catapults the storyline even further than you could expect.
That pacing was perfect, as was the mystery shrouding the characters who find themselves together. This mystery unfolded piece by piece, the viewer learning key information along with Michelle, our heroine we met in the opening scene. The mystery is played out with prime suspense, with the fear and suspicion palpable. I exclaimed out loud. I yelped. I spontaneously pulled my feet up into my lap. I averted my eyes during some parts. And I was fabulously fooled frequently.
The movie failed with only a few issues. One came back again and again, distracting me from the intensity of the building mysteries. I will say only this (I want to be especially certain no spoilers arise here), and if you know manicures, you’ll agree: the nail polish was an epic fail. Its use was obvious and intended to convey important information. But it was poorly executed. See the movie, and we can talk more about this.
Oh, John Goodman? Nothing disappoints about Goodman’s performance. Nothing. For the past several years, he has delivered superb performances in smaller roles. (I raved about many of those, such as in Argo, Flight, and Inside Llewyn Davis.) Finally, finally he is here in a key starring role. And he owns this role. Perfectly.
Is it really five stars? Well, it’s probably four-and-a-half. But you know me; I prefer to round up. We need more positivity in the world. Besides, I’ll give that extra push from my movie companion, who after the show when I asked his thoughts, grinned and proclaimed, “I liked it!” (That’s a rave review by said companion.)
And no, I was not at all lost from not having seen the original Cloverfield. Nor will you be. That is all that need be said on that.