10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg

Written by Josh Campbell, Matthew Stuecken and Damien Chazelle

Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman and John Gallagher Jr. 

     A reboot of sorts of the 2008 horror/mystery film, Cloverfield- 10 Cloverfield Lane is brought to us with the same level of suspense and mystery. This mysterious horror film will leave you in suspense from start to finish. Director Dan Trachtenberg delivers his first big blockbuster hit with the assistance of a few writers including Damien Chazelle (yup, thats right- the director of La La Land is a writer for this film). 

     The movie begins with an intense car wreck which leaves Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), waking up in a basement, chained to the wall. Not knowing where she is or how she got there, she soon meets her captor, Howard (John Goodman). Along with former handyman of Howard, Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.)- Michelle shortly discovers the apparent, imminent danger going on outside. She was taken into a doomsday bunker following her crash and the hulking, scary Howard claims he "saved her." According to him, apocalyptic events have occurred and it is not safe to go outside. He intends on the three of them staying inside the underground shelter until things are safe. Obviously Michelle is a skeptic, because what sane person who just awoke from a car wreck in a mysterious basement would be on board with this lunacy. As the movie progresses however, we soon learn that Howard's ramblings of the apocalypse may actually be true. 

     Trachtenberg does a superb job at maintaining this level of mystery throughout the entire film. Set in a much different environment than the original Cloverfield, there is never really a dull moment- which is quite possible considering the set of the movie is a claustrophobic underground bunker. The movie keeps us guessing constantly. Who really is Howard? A lonely savior who predicted the apocalypse- or a deranged kidnapper? Is the earth really under attack, and if so by what? 

This nail-biting level of suspense was hovering over me the whole film. 

     Although not a very big name, I liked Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the lead role. Her level of paranoia was never over-the-top like we see from a lot of female horror movie stars. She was calm and collect and secretive over her suspicions of Howard. John Goodman was very creepy- yet also had some scenes where you almost sympathized with his character. I can't see anyone else playing this role. 

     A real psychological thriller. The suspense never really lagged. This is one of those horror movies you really can't explain, when your friends ask you what it's about. It's a movie worth seeing if you're seeking a suspenseful mystery movie. The constant not knowing over what is going on in the outside, and who Howard really is- is what makes this movie scary. There's no forced "jumpy" scenes. Just a real psychological thriller. 

I give 10 Cloverfield Lane a...

7/10