Cloverfield

Viewed – 16 June 2008 DVD

I wasn’t aware of the Internet hype surrounding this movie pre-cinema. All I knew was that it was simply The Blair Witch Project meets Independence Day by way of Godzilla. Now there’s a pitch.

What we have here is a documentary-style, hand-held camera ‘experience’ of what appears to be an Alien invasion of New York city – although, just as in real life, the exact details are kept vague to say the least. We follow a group of likable 20 somethings caught up in the events following one guys leaving party, and then its basically a survival disaster movie quite unlike anything I had seen outside of that disturbing (see: shocking) street camera footage of the 9/11 attacks.

For me this was an intense, gripping ride, unnerving and wholly believable even if it is an Alien attack and not terrorism we’re dealing with here. Oh and its miles better than that similar Blair Witch bucket-o-shite, with a budget this time, some genuine scares and the best use of special effects I think I’ve witnessed in years. In a word: awesome.

Verdict: 5 /5