Seven Spoiler-Free Things About Cloverfield

Hello, you beautiful individual. Just got back from the first UK screening of Cloverfield. That's Lost creator JJ Abrams' movie, which has been shrouded in remarkable mystery since last Summer, when a teaser-trailer circulated for the then-nameless film. I knew virtually nothing about it upon sitting down in the Empire Cinema. Well-under 90 minutes later, I was a hollow shell of a man. So here are the Things About Cloverfield, as advertised. I shall tell you nothing more, because if you haven't seen it already, you should probably try to avoid spoilers and see it fresh...

1) I loved it...
2) ... loved it...
3) ... loved it.
4) It terrified me.
5) I can't seem to stop thinking about it.
6) My jaw was somewhere near the floor for a good proportion of its running time.
7) If The Blair Witch Project gave you motion sickness, then bring some kind of anti-nausea medication.

That is all. Cloverfield opens this weekend in America, and on February 1 here in the UK. I'll almost certainly go and see it again.

20 comments:

Sarah Dobbs said...

1. Yes.

2. Yes.

3. Yes.

4. Yes.

5. Yes!!

6. Yes. Also some audible gasps.

7. Definitely.

I'm going to see it again, too. I can't remember the last time I saw a film that well written on the big screen. Note perfect. Funny, scary, heartbreaking, scary again... Brilliant.

Oli said...

Reaaaaaaaaaaaally looking forward to this.

DraconianOne said...

Yes, but did you like Blair Witch?

I want to see this but I'm also hesitating because I think it might piss me off intensely. Ah well, only a couple of weeks to go.

Jason Arnopp said...

Tom: I love Blair Witch, yes. Not specifically because of the shaky-cam, though!

Robin Kelly said...

OK, that makes me feel better about it, Jase. My mind was boggling at the one video camera thing, thinking not even JJ could pull it off.

Jason Arnopp said...

Glad to ease your mind, Robin!

There's a mini blitz of handheld cam flicks on the way. George Romero's new zombie movie Diary Of The Dead (disappointing) and the Spanish horror movie Rec (very good indeed) both use that conceit...

Anonymous said...

Ever since the first trailer was put up I've been excited. There's an article on Cloverfield in SFX this month, which I've got to read.

P.S. If anyone can steal the cutness that is Lizzy Caplan for me I'll be very grateful ;)

Jon said...

Caught the trailer the other weekend and thought 'oooh that's looks most interesting'...

Kinda guessed that it was a handheld single camera thang. Glad it's living up to the pre-publicity.

I didn't know it was by Abrams though: I doubt it will come as any surprise, given my general grouchiness, that Lost is on the ever-increasing list of things I just don't like...

I shall not let this put me off! ;-)

Sarah Dobbs said...

I didn't know it was by Abrams though: I doubt it will come as any surprise, given my general grouchiness, that Lost is on the ever-increasing list of things I just don't like...

It's not - he's just the producer. It was directed by Matt Reeves, and written by Drew Goddard. I hate Lost with a fiery vengeance, so I had misgivings about Cloverfield, but I loved it just as much as Mr Arnopp.

Jon said...

That's good to know...

I shall now bait my breath for it...

Oli said...

"Diary Of The Dead (disappointing)"

Disappointing like Day of the Dead was, or slightly worse?

Lucy V said...

I'm only going if you buggers provide me with a signed affadavit promising me that Cloverfield is not remotely like LOST. Well?

Robin Kelly said...

Lost creator/producer JJ had the idea and basic framework of the story. He broke the first act with Lost writer/producer Drew Goddard, who went on to finish the outline and write it using a Lost souvenir pen.

It can't help but be a bit Losty - which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Jason Arnopp said...

Oli: Hmmmm, don't think we'll shrieking from the same hymn-book on matters Romero, then. Day Of The Dead is my fave Romero flick! :)

Jon said...

Of them zombie flicks I'd go along with Day Of The Dead; of all the work, I'd take Martin then The Crazies. But I'm abstruse... or is it obtuse?

Sal said...

Should a person who is awake half the night after watching "Signs" thinking aliens are in the room go to see this?

Robin Kelly said...

Day of the Dead and Monkey Shines spring to mind for me.

Jason Arnopp said...

Hi Sal! The answer is, quite probably, no. But go see it anyway! :)

evil twinz said...

Well up for this. Monsters! Yeah!

Any scantily clad women though?

Luv Mike

Oli said...

Oh, crap, no I meant Land of the Dead. Day's awesome!