“10 Cloverfield Lane” a Sequel to “Cloverfield”?
The anticipation of a kid on Christmas Eve who can’t wait to open their presents describes the anticipation Cloverfield fans felt upon learning of the spiritual successor to Cloverfield that was soon to be released. 10 Cloverfield Lane might not be a direct sequel to Cloverfield, but it is undeniably linked with it in terms of their unique film styles that differ from typical thrillers. Junior Erick P. said he had watched Cloverfield before, and he knew the films must be related “because of the title, but the trailer of the new film seemed to have no correlation to the first film.” Yes, confusion and interest is definitely the response the makers of this film were going for, something completely different from the previous film to make sure they remain unique.
The production of 10 Cloverfield Lane was so far under the radar, nearly everyone was surprised when the first spine tingling trailer dropped earlier this year with a clear Cloverfield reference tacked on the title. The film cast is particularly small, with only three predominant cast members appearing throughout the film. The lead role of Michelle is played by the talented Mary Elizabeth Winstead—most notable for her role as Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World—where she here plays the role of a car crash victim who suddenly awakens to find herself in a foreign and quite possibly dangerous situation. John Goodman—notable for playing Dan Conner on the comedy series Roseanne—pushes aside his comedy shows and steps up to play the more ominous role of the man who “saved” Michelle, Howard. Rounding out the main cast is John Gallagher Jr.—known for Short Term 12—who also finds himself at the mercy of Howard’s so-called protection.
The beauty of this film, as with Cloverfield, is the mystery surrounding the characters. Are there any bad characters at all, or simply the uncertainty of the dangerous outside world? Who can be trusted? There really is no way to quell this thirsty for answer other than to see the film, which is what I recommend to any and all fans of Cloverfield. Even for the skeptical, such as junior Erick P. who said he “wouldn’t watch it, despite liking sci-fi horror, because it seems to just be about a girl trapped in a room,” I’m sure they’d have a change of heart, as the story transcends far beyond the surface of that plot thread, trust me.
For those unfamiliar with Cloverfield, 10 Cloverfield Lane is only loosely related and just as good as a standalone thriller. This film offers mystery after mystery that begs to be watched and unraveled. For movie night this weekend, I’d suggest the heart pounding 10 Cloverfield Lane, the spiritual successor to Cloverfield. If the positive reviews are to be trusted, then the hype for this film is well deserved.
