10 Cloverfield Lane

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

Director : Dan Trachtenberg

Year : 2016

Genre : Thriller

Rating : ****

What began life as a standard psychological thriller under the working title of 'The Cellar' has, through considerable involvement from JJ Abrams and his Bad Robot production company as well as input from 'Whiplash' screenwriter Damien Chazelle, been reconfigured into a gripping "blood relative" to Matt Reeves' 2009 found footage monster smash 'Cloverfield'. 

Helmed by debut director Dan Trachtenberg, the now esoterically named '10 Cloverfield Lane' sees Mary Elizabeth Winstead's Michelle held captive underground by Howard, a reclusive and fractured survivalist played by a grizzled and unshaven John Goodman, who claims that the world has become unhabitable in the wake of an unspecified nuclear attack. Joining Michelle and her apparent saviour in the bunker is John Gallagher's Emmett, a slippery yet trustworthy individual who reluctantly believes Howard's seemingly crazy words about the apocalypse taking place outside the metal walls of their fortified sanctuary. But as cabin fever and distrust begins to creep its way into the apparent safe haven, it isn't long before the 'imprisoned' couple start to question their clearly damaged captor's motives.

Anyone going into '10 Cloverfield Lane' expecting a direct sequel to the hand held horrors of 'Cloverfield' are going to be sorely disappointed. There is no talk of giant monsters or vicious attacks on New York and while there is plenty of tension and even genuine scares scattered throughout its fairly brisk running time, the picture noticeably lacks the anarchy and visceral splendour of it's critically acclaimed cousin. But what it lacks in on-screen action, '10 Cloverfield Lane' more than makes for with expert direction, a taut script and three brilliant performances from it's hugely talented central cast.

No matter how good or bad the project may be, John Goodman always delivers a performance of the highest order and '10 Cloverfield Lane' is no different. In his very capable hands, the character of the instantly disagreeable Howard becomes an intensely creepy and menacing presence and whose erratic personality as well as his spontaneous transitions between avuncular altruism and red blooded volcanic fury proves to be a much more terrifying antagonist than that of the colossal beast that wreaked havoc throughout downtown Manhattan in the original 2009 film. Complimenting this ferocious performance is a brilliantly confident turn from genre regular Mary Elizabeth Winstead while John Gallagher brings a lot of humour and dry wit to the predominantly dour proceedings. Together this unlikely trio form one of the best ensemble casts of the year so far and it is their dedication to their respective roles as well as their obvious on and off camera chemistry that makes '10 Cloverfield Lane' such an enjoyable and, more importantly, unmissable post awards seasons treat.

While its sequel-friendly final act may prove to be too tonally jarring for many, all in all, '10 Cloverfield Lane' is a superbly crafted, immensely engrossing and consistently intense attack on the nerves that proves that, as the poster so eloquently puts it, monsters do indeed come in many forms. Yes, it may not be able to boast a gigantic extra- terrestrial leviathan that can behead the Statue of Liberty with one swipe of its massive claw but what '10 Cloverfield Lane' can boast is that it is a very harrowing and very convincing portrayal of what it would be like to be held against your will by a potentially insane person - in my opinion, an infinetly scarier and more evocative scenario.