Cloverfield

(USA, 2007, 85 minutes)

A New York party is interrupted by the attack of an unknown, reptilian monster who proceeds to destroy the city; the action is seen through the partygoers' video camera as they try to save a wounded friend while evading the monster. Old-fashioned monster B-movie in clever disguise that purports to be Godzilla seen from the street level, shot like a vérité home video; shame the originality did not extend to a decent script, so that half way through its appropriately short length it loses steam and falls apart. Worth a mark for that great idea, though.

 

Paramount Pictures presents a Bad Robot production. Starring Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T. J. Miller, Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman. Directed by Matt Reeves; produced by J. J. Abrams, Bryan Burk; written by Drew Goddard; music by Michael Giacchino; director of photography (DeLuxe), Michael Bonvillain; production designer, Martin Whist; costume designer, Ellen Mirojnick; film editor, Kevin Stitt; visual effects supervisors, Kevin Blank, Michael Ellis, Eric Leven; creatures designed by Neville Page.