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Movies / On DVD / Cloverfield
Cloverfield

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Cloverfield (2008)

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Reviews Counted:193

Fresh:147

Rotten:46

Average Rating:6.7/10

Consensus: A sort of Blair Witch Project crossed with Godzilla, Cloverfield is economically paced, stylistically clever, and filled with scares.

Rated: 15 [See Full Rating] for violence, terror and disturbing images.

Runtime: 85 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Theatrical Release:01-02-2008

Synopsis: Director Matt Reeves (THE PALLBEARER) and producer J. J. Abrams (LOST, ALIAS) turn a mysterious monster loose in Manhattan in the disaster flick CLOVERFIELD. The movie begins at a party for Rob... Director Matt Reeves (THE PALLBEARER) and producer J. J. Abrams (LOST, ALIAS) turn a mysterious monster loose in Manhattan in the disaster flick CLOVERFIELD. The movie begins at a party for Rob (Michael Stahl-David), who has accepted a promotion that will send him to Japan. Hud (T. J. Miller) is entrusted with the responsibility of videotaping the party--and as the trouble grows, he holds on to the camera, recording everything that happens. In fact, the entire movie is seen through the lens of his camera, reminiscent of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. As terrified people in a post-9/11 New York City take to the streets, Rob decides to head uptown to try to save Beth (Odette Yustman), the woman he loves, though he's afraid to tell her so. Rob is joined by his brother Jason (Mike Vogel), Jason's girlfriend Lily (Jessica Lucas), Lily's friend Marlena (Lizzy Caplan), and Hud, who has a thing for Marlena. Rob is determined not to give up, even after almost being crushed by the Statue of Liberty's head and as the military shows up to force evacuation of the city. Reeves and first-time screenwriter Drew Goddard, who previously has written television episodes of such series as BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, ANGEL, ALIAS, and LOST, focus in on the central aspect of the story: people trying to survive the monster attack. Very little else is explained, since the story is told completely through the video camera. And there is no additional score to heighten the drama; the only music is that which is picked up by Hud and the camera's microphone, including snippets of songs by Kings of Leon, Parliament Funkadelic, Of Montreal, and others. The anticipation of CLOVERFIELD's release was enhanced by a viral marketing campaign that included Web sites built around the main characters and even the fictional drink Slusho. [More]

Starring: Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman, Lizzy Caplan

Starring: Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller

Director: Matt Reeves

Director: Matt Reeves
Screenwriter: Drew Goddard
Producer: J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk
Studio: Paramount Pictures

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Cloverfield

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1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
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A dazzling experiment that paid off immensely, this is cinematic pleasure at its purest.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/22/08
Olly Richards
Olly Richards
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Feels like one big, masterfully executed experiment in upping the ante in audience manipulation, and it works brilliantly.

Full Review Source: IGN Movies UK | comment Comment
02/07/08
Orlando Parfitt
Orlando Parfitt
IGN Movies UK

Even if there's nothing new going on here, the style and quality of this film injects a terrific sense of terror into the old monster movie formula.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
01/28/08
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Jaw dropping stuff but you will have to have a strong stomach to cope with the constantly moving camera.

Full Review Source: Heart 106.2 | comment Comment
01/28/08
Simon Thompson
Simon Thompson
Heart 106.2

It's like Abrams and crew have looked into the void and thought: the only thing worse than Armageddon is if no one witnessing it is hot.

Full Review Source: I.E. Weekly | comment Comment
01/29/08
Amy Nicholson
Amy Nicholson
I.E. Weekly

Under the modern flummery, behind the faux amateurism and the handheld shudder, Cloverfield is a vastly old-fashioned piece of work, creaking with hilarious contrivance.

Full Review Source: New Yorker | comment 1 Comment
01/22/08
Anthony Lane
Anthony Lane
New Yorker

It’s the Cloverfield hype campaign -- not the dissatisfying, unimpressive film itself -- that is the work of art.

Full Review Source: New York Press | comment Comment
01/23/08
Armond White
Armond White
New York Press

After seeing Cloverfield, I was so frustrated and disappointed that I felt like I needed a palate cleanser. I wanted to immediately go home and watch South Korea's The Host.

Full Review Source: KPBS.org | comment Comment
01/18/08
Beth Accomando
Beth Accomando
KPBS.org

Nothing more than a gimmick from beginning to end, Cloverfield is a savvy marketing campaign masquerading as a movie.

Full Review Source: Colorado Springs Gazette | comment Comment
02/28/08
Brandon Fibbs
Brandon Fibbs
Colorado Springs Gazette

Basically a 70-minute YouTube video, Cloverfield has all the head-rattling jolt and dramatic verisimilitude of a prank phone call.

Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | comment Comment
01/17/08
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
DVDTalk.com

The persistently shaky camera sways to and fro so much the upshot is more nauseating than thrilling. Skip the nachos/ hotdog combo and opt for a packet of aspirin instead.

Full Review Source: Mansized | comment 6 Comments
05/13/08
Chris Laverty
Chris Laverty
Mansized

For all its popularity, self-documentation's purpose and meaning remain elusive.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment 5 Comments
03/21/08
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters

Despite a first reel entirely devoted to establishing characters, Cloverfield is basically a line-'em-up, pick-'em-off horror movie that's effective without being either viscerally frightening or emotionally moving.

Full Review Source: Slate | comment Comment
01/17/08
Dana Stevens
Dana Stevens
Slate

Despite being only 84 minutes, it seemed overlong and padded.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/19/08
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

I've never cheered so hard for the monster to win in my life.

Full Review Source: TheDivaReview.com | comment 14 Comments
02/28/08
Diva Velez
Diva Velez
TheDivaReview.com

Worthwhile only for the scale of the destruction and the sheer audacity of its marketing campaign.

Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net | comment Comment
01/16/08
Edward Douglas
Edward Douglas
ComingSoon.net

Too bad the movie is a less-than-satisfying experiment with contrived fake documentary aesthetics.

Full Review Source: New York Press | comment Comment
01/16/08
Eric Kohn
Eric Kohn
New York Press

Grabby 9/11 imagery, facile jolts, and smeared textures

Full Review Source: CinePassion | comment 2 Comments
08/27/09
Fernando F. Croce
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion

The only thing surprising about the picture turns out to be how unsurprising it is. Also--despite massive special effects--how boring.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
01/19/08
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Insipid characters speak dialog so banal it makes Andy Tennant's 'Fool's Gold' sound Shakespearean.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
01/18/08
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve
 
 
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Latest News for Cloverfield

April 27, 2009: Five Favourite Films with J. J. Abrams
The blockbuster season is upon us and amongst the line-up is the highly anticipated reboot of Star Trek. RT spoke to the man in the captain's chair, J. J. Abrams, about his... More...

March 02, 2009: Abrams Plots Cloverfield Sequel-Type Thing Opens in new window
Saying "the idea's pretty sweet," J.J. Abrams has confirmed that a sequel to "Cloverfield" -- or at least a new movie "related to" it -- is on the table. More...

September 25, 2008: Matt Reeves Will Let the Right One In Opens in new window
Overture is prepping a remake of Tomas Alfredson's Swedish vampire movie "Lat Den Ratte Komma In," to be helmed by "Cloverfield" director Matt Reeves. More...

April 21, 2008: RT on DVD: Cloverfield, Charlie Wilson and 2008's Worst-Reviewed Film
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a Slusho, whatever that is! Cloverfield stomps its way onto DVD as not only the most exciting new release of the week, but the one most... More...

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