By Warren Gordon
Staff Writer
Concise, suspenseful, yet still playful and smartly pieced together, Dan Tachtenberg’s “10 Cloverfield Lane” leaves behind the mystery surrounding its release, outdoing its predecessor, Cloverfield.
The film’s unique plot, mysterious atmosphere, and flawless acting contributes to the film’s huge success.
After surviving a car accident, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wakes up to find herself in an underground bunker with two men. Howard (John Goodman) tells her that a massive chemical attack has rendered the air unbreathable, and their only hope of survival is to remain inside. Despite the comforts of the bunker, Howard’s controlling and menacing nature makes Michelle want to escape. After taking matters into her own hands, the young woman finally discovers the truth about the outside world.
Cloverfield Lane contains a plot like no other film. This suspenseful mystery creates an uneasy feeling around every twist and turn. Tachtenberg does a great job of turning a risky plot, into a huge hit. The plot of this film has never been created before, and could have been a disappointment. Due to its uniqueness, the film is able to stand out, and surprise many, as it leaves the audience on the edge of their seats.
For example, when Howard reveals that he is the one who crashed into Michelle’s car, you get a sense of his sanity and safety. The audience later gets hints about Howard’s dark side. For example, the audience finds out about his background, and Michelle realizes he is not as friendly as he tries to seem. The film keeps the theme of safety twisted with mystery constant throughout.
One of the highlights of the film is that it has a mysterious atmosphere throughout the entirety of the film. Towards the beginning of the film, Michelle wakes up from a devastating accident to find herself locked up in chains in a prison looking room. As she soon slowly lets her guard down, the small bunker she is being held captive in, starts to create a run for your life sort of feel as it becomes more and more claustrophobic. This sensation has viewers on the edge of their seats trying to anticipate both Michelle and Howard’s next move.
Goodman is brought back to life, as he excels in this film. His jolly overweight appearance fakes the audience, as they quickly learn not to trust him. His acting skills help his character be able to jump from two different emotions in the span of seconds, and still be able to keep the audience interested. Goodman does a sensational job of using his stature to his advantage.
Overall, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a must see. The realistic acting blended in with the unique plot, and mysterious atmosphere contributes to the success of the film. Tachtenberg and his crew have put together a film like no other, and it succeeds to impress.
10 Cloverfield Lane is rated PG-13 and is playing nationwide.
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