SYNOPSIS: Monsters come in many forms.

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.