Cloverfield

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⭐ 8.5/10

(Originally written by Rebecca)

I've been wanting to watch this one for a long time, and finally got around to it on vacation when the airbnb host had it on DVD. I love monster movies, and I love found footage films, conceptually. I found all the characters really boring and lacking in personality and I didn't particularly care about any of them dying, so that was definitely where it was lacking, but I do really love that very abrupt turn from "life as usual, characters are making life decisions" to "holy shit there's something really wild happening right outside." This was all mortal peril and running for your life, which is something I love!

Like Joe mentioned, the camerawork was incredibly shaky and dizzying, which was sometimes hard to watch, but I can admit it was realistic. And I actually love the sense that something could be happening just outside of your extremely limited view. The limited glimpses you get of the monster(s) really work for me, and that first real good look is amazing.

Overall, I just wish the characters were more interesting and sympathetic :/ When major characters die and not even I care, you know something's wrong.

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