10 Cloverfield Lane

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Written by KTP

10 Cloverfield Lane:  John Goodman can make a movie about cooking ramen deep and interesting.

There’s going to be a big disclaimer before you go into this movie. Take all the hype, the viral marketing, the J.J. Abrams name, and the Cloverfield bullshit and toss it in the fucking trash. The advertising is trying to sell this as something it’s not. Here’s what it is. It’s a tense thriller with some sci-fi elements. But, don’t walk away from this from because the marketing lied to you. Great performances and a really heavy atmosphere make this a surprisingly good film without any shaky cam bullshit.

"Justing spinning the wheel. Just keep playing a game where to win you have to fill up a car with babiesohmygodIgottagetthefuckouttahere."

The movie starts with Michelle (Winstead) on the road leaving a relationship behind when she gets into a car accident and wakes up handcuffed to a pipe in a concrete room. The room is part of an underground bunker belonging to Howard (Goodman) who brought her back to for medical care after the accident and safety after the “attacks”. What these attacks are and if there is even one is unclear. Joined by Emmett (Gallagher) who was trying to get in the bunker, Michelle tries to make sense of it all as the days go on with Howard’s underlying oddness and intensity looming over the two.

"If I find out you've been going through my Yugioh cards, I'm shoving your ass in this fucking barrel."

John Goodman steps up to plate and knocks it out of the park. His portrayal of Howard and his quirks is great and it will keep you on your toes. Winstead and Gallagher aren’t slouches either and manage to appear vulnerable while bouncing back from Howard’s eccentricities. The question, “Why are we in the bunker.” keeps you guessing in a fluid, natural way. I will say that the majority of the film manages to be a great thriller; one of the best I’ve seen for some time. Then towards the end, it feels…off. It’s almost like a different movie that was just slapped on at the end. It’s not necessarily bad, but you’ll notice the tone changes a bit.

"I'm watching you poop."

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see it. Goodman is fucking great while the pacing and tension is spot on. With the shift in tone towards the end, 10 Cloverfield Lane goes from a great film to a just a good one. As much as I want to separate marketing from this, I do think they had a hand in some of the direction of the film. If that’s true then ultimately, this movie is like your little brother running around while all your friends are over. You still are going to have a good time, you just wish he would get the fuck out.