OVERVIEW: Acclaimed producer J.J. Abrams and up-and-coming director Dan Trachtenberg deliver a new masterpiece that critics are calling “riveting, gripping and loaded with tension” (Scott Mantz, “Access Hollywood”) when 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE debuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand June 14, 2016 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. The film arrives two weeks early on Digital HD May 31.

With a shocking finale that “will completely blow you away” (Eric Eisenberg, Cinemablend), 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE looks phenomenal on Blu-ray. The Combo Pack includes Digital HD, commentary with director Dan Trachtenberg and producer J.J. Abrams, and over 30 minutes of special features. Take an extensive look behind-the-scenes with Abrams and the cast as they revisit the legacy of 2008’s CLOVERFIELD, and discuss how 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE went from script to production. Continue with a tour of the ominous bunker, see how the costume designer was challenged to create a homemade Hazmat suit, follow the production team and sound designers as they work on the movie's epic finale, and hear the unique scores composed for each character. Plus, for a limited time only, get a bonus Digital HD copy of the original CLOVERFIELD with the Blu-ray Combo Pack.

SYNOPSIS: Certified Fresh by critics with a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE delivers “heart-pounding fun” (Patrick Stinson, “Made in Hollywood”) that will “shock you senseless” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). After a catastrophic car crash, a young woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) wakes up in a survivalist’s (John Goodman, Argo) underground bunker. He claims to have saved her from an apocalyptic attack that has left the outside world uninhabitable. His theories are supported by a mysterious stranger who is in the bunker with them (John Gallagher, Jr., “The Newsroom”), but as his increasingly suspicious actions lead her to question his motives, she'll have to escape in order to discover the truth.

FILM REVIEW: Cloverfield, the 2008 first-person action/horror/sci-fi flick from JJ Abrams’ production company Bad Robot, is one of the better examples of the “found-footage” genre. Its kinetic-ism of characters racing across bridges shouting “Oh my Goddddd!” is nowhere to be found in this sequel, though. That’s right, this latest effort, to put it mildly is a single-location pressure cooker-style, influenced more by Hitchcock-stylistically and less by the gaming community, unlike the original. Nevertheless, there are interesting elements of both to be had here. Actually, it would be more like 2004’s “Saw,” meets “War of the Worlds,” with a form of Hitchcock flair to it. Sounds confusing? Well, be prepared to be racking your brain trying to link this latest release to its predecessor.

Consequently, though the film includes the “Cloverfield” name in its title, it’s just as much a psychological suspense thriller as it is any kind of Sci-Fi flick, showcasing the human aspect of such a profound scenario (the Alien invasion). Where this latest effort succeeds the most though, is delivering a very character driven story, focusing on the radical changes in each person’s circumstances from everyday life to survival (think of The Walking Dead [minus the zombies]).

The casting lineup starts with John Goodman who is well known for many of his nice guy, almost goofy, characters; however, one should be prepared to see an entirely different side of him here. Mary Elizabeth Winstead‘s (Kill the Messenger, 2014) Michelle character is gripping and throws the storyline in to a tailspin from beginning to end. John Gallagher Jr. (The Heart Machine, 2014) rounds out the cast as Emmett while Direction comes from relatively newcomer Dan Trachtenberg with the blessings of producer JJ Abrams.

Overall, “10 Cloverfield Lane” is a solid, enjoyable flick that showcases the talents of everyone involved. Winstead gives a terrific performance, one that will most likely be remembered among her career, while Goodman actually seems creepy and dangerous despite his usual persona. Trachtenberg’s direction elevates this film from classic horror/sci-fi films by examining the human element and the monstrosity of regular, everyday people in a struggle for survival. Three and a half stars out of five is well deserved here, however, I’d recommend this as a movie rental as opposed to theater viewing.

BLU-RAY: The film is presented in widescreen in a 2.40:1 aspect ration preserving its theatrical format. The picture is just flawless. Not only the picture looks great in this release, also the sound it is good, a 5.1 Dolby Digital in English that provides a good complement to the picture. It also includes  English, French  and Spanish subtitles.

VIDEO:
Widescreen (2.40:1) 16x9

AUDIO:
English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Subtitles - English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Blu-ray™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.

DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.

DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet™ lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.

Feature film in high definition

Commentary by director Dan Trachtenberg and producer J.J. Abrams

Over 30 minutes of Behind-The-Scenes Footage DVD

Feature film in standard definition