Cloverfield monster movie

Horrorphile

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Horrorphile - January 2008

1-18-08 ... Colossus ... Monstrous ... CLOVERFIELD!

January 13th 2008 22:55

Rather ironically a huge SuperTrash monster flick that had been very successfully viral marketed is about to be released, Cloverfield, and I’ve only just heard about it. Which rock have I been under?!

Since July of last year producer J.J. Abrams (TV’s Lost) has been leaking teasers and internet tentacles that hint at what his monster movie is about. Basically a massive leviathan emerges from the watery depths surrounding lower Manhattan and wreaks destruction on par with 9/11.

And therein lies the Rub: it’s a re-rub of 9/11, told through the “eyes” of someone’s little handicam as they, and those around them, try to survive the horrendous wake left by this monstrous, colossus of a beast.

So, why Cloverfield? Because that was one of the movie’s many teaser titles (along with 1-18-08, Monstrous, Colossus, Slusho, Cheese, Chocolate, Parasite, and Overnight), and eventually it stuck. One of the most effective teasers was a poster which showed a decapitated Statue of Liberty with the monster’s path of destruction through Manhattan in the background, dust still rising. If you look closely into the surrounding clouds at the top right of the poster you can make out the cavernous eyes and mouth of a frightening-looking beast peering down at the statue from the heavens.

From the trailers the movie looks very similar to another monster movie which came out several years ago; the incredibly disappointing remake of Godzilla, from the trashy team who brought us the dreadful Independence Day.

There are numerous “fake” trailers too, including an hilarious one which reveals the monster at the end to be the giant Michelin man from Ghostbusters II.

Hmmm, Lady Liberty's head in the middle of the street, something's not right

I do like the pseudo-doco feel of Cloverfield though, but whether or not it actually cuts the mustard as far as becoming a monster classic, we’ll have to wait and see. One thing that disappoints me, as a horrorphile, is that it’s only rated PG-13 in the States. So, immediately we know which demographic the movie is designed for, and it doesn’t spell good things for the horror fans.

Still, could be worth checking out on the big screen, simply for the spectacular audio-visual assault on the senses. Transformers worked well in that way.

Cloverfield is released in Australasia this Thursday, January 17. All will be revealed.

Here is one of the trailers:

Here is a four minute excerpt from the beginning of the movie, very 9/11:

And here are several examples of what supposedly the monster looks like, probably all deliberately fake.

Oops! Odette Justman as Marlena, not the monster, and not scary at all!

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: bait

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Comments

18 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Cibbuano

January 14th 2008 01:20

20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak

yeah! I'm going to the preview screening this week!

Comment by Damo

January 14th 2008 01:38

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Why is it that end of the world always starts in America?
Maybe God is sending them a message.

Comment by Wayne F

January 14th 2008 02:06

Bucket Movies

This looks like its going to be a bad ass movie. I'm looking forward to this one the trailers have been pretty sweet.

And Damo of course America always gets the naughty stick from God when it comes to the end of the world. It always starts off with NYC, San Fran or L.A. Poor disaster hot spot cities

Comment by KylieW

January 14th 2008 04:02

Celebrity Obsession

HAHA - I like that Damo!

PG-13 is disappointing. But from the trailers and the poster (which I love) you could be right about it being an audio-visual feast for the senses. Surely it couldn't be worse than Godzilla........could it???

Comment by Tracy

January 14th 2008 04:07

Movies and Life

I was perplexed by its PG-13 rating as well.

Comment by Spennies

January 14th 2008 04:52

Record Reviews
Bet Shrink
The Dissident
Film Reviewer

Through seeing the brief previews I was a little interested, but after your portrayal and others of what it'll be like, I am not as interested. But I may end up checking it out and it comes out on my Bday the 17th?
A sign?
lol
snice post

Comment by JohnDoe

January 14th 2008 05:16

Film & TV on DVD

I'm seeing this one on Wednesday night so will let you know....haven't got high hopes.

I have been completely unimpressed with JJ Abrams to this point but "Cloverfield" looks so much like the Asian delight last year called "The Host" I have to give it a chance.

Comment by Bryn

January 14th 2008 05:49

Horrorphile

Kylie, one hopes it won't be worse than Godzilla ... but hey, sadder things have happened ...

JD, where'd you and Cibby hear about the preview on Weds? I think I'll slip into a day session sometime over the next week ... I didn't like The Host, bored me, so I'm hoping this one will fill that monster void ...

Comment by JohnDoe

January 14th 2008 05:54

Film & TV on DVD

Wow I was really amused by the subversive nature of "The Host", focusing on character emotional reactions instead of monumental destruction. Also loved the reinterpretation of classic monster design...guess I saw it as a comedy though.

Comment by Mark Isaacson

January 14th 2008 09:12

Gamemonger
FIBA Live

You mean the stay puff marshmallow man from Ghostbusters, not Ghostbusters II, yes?

And I can't wait to see this movie, the trailer has had me excited for some time. I'm a bit of a fan of JJ's work.

Comment by Anonymous

January 14th 2008 14:57

yeah it wasn't the Michelin man in ghostbuster it was the stay puff marshmellow man. The most harmless thing ray could think of at the time. LOL...I am looking forward to Cloverfield. I hope it doesn't suck.

Comment by Lilla

January 15th 2008 00:20

Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald

Hi Bryn,

Great review.

I think this will be an interesting film in the way it's being presented.

That zoom in on Liberty's eye is menacing.

Lilla ...

ps I loved your analogy of the stay puff man...

Comment by Loling

January 15th 2008 05:12

lol the last monster picture looks starngly similar to Sin from Final Fantasy X... SO I am loling alot because I love that game and think Ill love this movie...

Comment by Bryn

January 15th 2008 07:04

Horrorphile

Damn, I always thought it was the Michelin man .... I'm not familiar with the Stay Puff Marshmellow man, but then I've never really been into candy ....

Comment by Steve

January 22nd 2008 22:19

I don't see why most everyone is raving about the cinematics of the film. I thought we didn't even get to see the monster(s) enough at all, there could have been wayyyy cooler explosions and gore and Abrams could have still kept that creepy feeling about what is going on alive. Im talking more "parasites" attacking people, more shots of the monster,a freakin $30000000 film and I feel like I am watching a low budget IT tech students project for his final. I also feel he left it way too open ended. Arent we, the watcher, supposed to get a sense of completion from a monster movie? Like AVP the ship comes and takes the Predators body away, or killing the clown in IT. Yeah you know they are probably coming back but there was something that happenes that we ,the veiwer,SEES, actually sees happen at the end of the movie. I am happy I watched the whole thing on Stage 6 and didn't pay a dime. Next movie you make Abrams--- MORE MONSTER!

Comment by Bryn

January 23rd 2008 05:19

Horrorphile

Steve, movie touched a raw nerve methinks ... ?

Comment by Anonymous

February 7th 2008 22:44

thats not Lizzy Caplan
thats Odette Yustman

Comment by Bryn

February 8th 2008 02:34

Horrorphile

Anon, you're right, my mistake, I wrote this post before I'd seen the movie, and got the actors muddled. It happens. Thanks for the heads up. Did you read my review?

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