Cloverfield is a monster movie in the found footage format. The camera is from the viewpoint of a character that is currently filming the events, and includes the effects of shaking the camera for running, and a blurry mess when he drops it. This was unique at the time but can also be nauseating for people who are prone to motion sickness. Nevertheless, it is a unique film that is worth watching as it is not your typical monster film. It starts off normally enough, slowly introducing the characters and their relationships. However, at around ten to fifteen mark, it focuses on sudden chaos. The characters, along with the viewers, have no idea what is happening, just that there are explosions, earthquakes and other rumblings in New York. The streets are in panic and the army shows up. We only get momentary glimpses at the monster from time to time, which can feel like the film teases you too much. On the other hand, it does enough to whet your appetite and keep you eager to see how it all pans out. It had to create a reason (which hovers between rational and stupidity) for the characters to be in the thick of the disaster and this is the driving force of the film. If you were ever interested in what the monster is, what its purpose was and everything about it, then Cloverfield doesn't answer any of those questions. As the film nears its end, you wonder how they are going to wrap up the story since it didn't show signs of stopping. Not to say the ending was disappointing but there was no way they could have given us a perfectly satisfactory ending. Cloverfield is a solid film that makes its subject matter interesting.
