'10 Cloverfield Lane' - A Harrowing Non-Sequel

'10 Cloverfield Lane' has the feel of a Hitchcock film with nods to the great 'War of the Worlds'; this is going to be the way to make a sequel that is not actually a sequel, yet feels like a part of the original 'Cloverfield' (without the nauseating hand held camera perspective). 

Claustrophobic, thrilling and intelligent, '10 Cloverfield Lane' is a well crafted psychological thriller, a instant home run for first time feature director Dan Trachtenberg, '10 Cloverfield Lane' is a story of twists and turns that will have you guessing through the end credits. Based on a story by Josh Campbell, and is co-written by Campbell, Matthew Stuecken and Damien Chazelle, '10 Cloverfiled Lane' is filled with amazing dialogue, realistic characters and strong performances all around.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead is Michelle, upset over a fight with her boyfriend and distrust of him, fleeing the city of Lake Charles. While listening to his pleas for her to return (the voice of Bradley Cooper), her car is swiped violently into a ditch by a mysterious vehicle.  Michelle is thrown into unconsciousness and awakens, chained to a bed, in a softly lit bunker.  Soon, Howard enters the room (played by the ominous and hulking John Goodman) to inform her that he has saved her from the wreak and quite frankly from the doomsday scenario occurring outside the bunker they are now in. Howard is so obsessed that he wants Michelle to thank him for saving her life and for saving her from the 'Martians' and toxic air outside.

Also in survivor mode with Michelle and Howard is the very likable young man Emmett (John Gallagher, Jr.) who actually helped Howard build the bunker they now occupy. Paranoia and tension mounts as the ever changing moods of Howard make it exceedingly likely that they are actually captives and not survivors.  John Goodman is as good as a creepy lunatic as you can get, playing a man who seems to be suppressing unnatural rage but with such a demeanor of sincereness you just simply never know what is going to come exploding from him next.

To explain any more would be giving away too much of the film; a film that was shrouded in mystery from the very get go (a trademark of producer JJ Abrams) and should be enjoyed in a theater to let the surprises unveil themselves. A solid 'B' effort that only lacked in the the final cookie-cutter scene; but a film that will surly spawn another 'Cloverfield' non-sequel.