FilmSnobReviews

Title: 10 Cloverfield Lane
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Starring: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr.
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

What It Is: When she is hit by a car Michelle (Winstead) awakens to find herself trapped in the basement of Howard (Goodman). Howard spins a yarn about the world coming to an end. About an invasion that has occurred making the air above unbreathable. Michelle questions the validity of these claims but there’s definitely something sinister about both this place and this man, but with the only other person in this house being a man in Emmett (Gallagher Jr.) who believes the stories. We’ll wait and see what’s really going on here.

What We Think: This is a great thriller. There’s something to be said for the way the film is constructed. It has layers and layers of intrigue. I like that it kept itself small. Trachtenberg crafts a fantastic picture. I really like the twists and turns this one takes. It has this rollercoaster feeling that fully takes advantage of its claustrophobic setting. This is a film that content wise is very difficult to talk about without giving it all away so I’ll leave you with this. If you get the chance to see it do.

Our Grade: B+, This is a film that’s held back by its budget but also works well within it. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman absolutely shine. They have a certain sort of palpable kineticism about their performances. It is really hard to enjoy a film that only features three people, save for a mere guest or two. 10 Cloverfield Lane is one of those rare ideas that is fresh but has a familiar name. It has a story that you cannot predict and an ending you will not see coming. Lest we discuss its ending. An ending that M. Night Shyamalan would kill for.