Cloverfield

“Warning. Due to the filming method used for ‘Cloverfield,’ guests may experience side effects associated with motion sickness similar to riding a roller coaster.” This is the message that greeted audiences at numerous box offices across America before screenings of “Cloverfield.”

“Cloverfield” is undeniably one of the most intensely gripping 80 minutes of footage that has ever reached cinemas from a hand-held camera. As the visionary tool used to unfold the otherwise simple story, the camera work is either seen as a glorified technique, or an annoying distraction.

As an unknown mammoth creature rips it way through the center of New York City, this modern day horror story is cleverly told trough the eyes of a small group of friends and their simple handi-cam. When it begins, the most we know is that the camera was found in what was once known as Central Park. In essence, “Cloverfield” is just another monster movie. In execution, it’s a unique rip-roaring thrill ride. Getting past its ever important filming technique may still be hard for some viewers.

Like it or not, “Cloverfield” is a mouth-agape film that abandons you in mayhem and never comes back. It’s special effects will dazzle, but its only at the hands of its clever filming techniques. In “Blair Witch Project” fashion, the footage is the movie. It unfolds as if you were simply watching the unedited images captured by ordinary people.   The pauses and stops in the tape cleverly reveal scenes that were presumably taped over brilliantly revealing glimpses into the backstory of the characters. Like the casting of relatively unknown actors, the producers do everything to keep the film feeling as realistic as possible. Stylistically, the notable tactic of not fully revealing what’s causing the destruction only adds to the film’s edge-of-your-seat experience.

With so much intricate precision put into the making of this picture it’s remarkable to see it extend even further in its marketing campaign. For a film that thrives on themes of the YouTube generation, producer JJ Abrams (creator of ABC’s “Lost”) has masterfully designed a campaign that reflects the film’s construction. Viral marketing web-sites and a nameless teaser trailer from last year only added to the film’s intrigue. With all the surrounding publicity, “Cloverfield” truly is a unique roller coaster ride that never fails to live up to its hype.

Cloverfield

Rated PG-13 for violence, terror and disturbing images

Runtime: 85 min.

Starring: Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan

Directed by Matt Reeves