A Bright Wall in a Dark Room’s review of “Cloverfield”

Guys, I wrote over two thousand words on why I thought Cloverfield was one of my favorite films of 2008 and I still felt I wasn’t expressing my arguments persuasively enough. Liz Miller was able to articulate all of that—and more—in half the length.

I’d argue that Cloverfield is the first truly modern horror film, one that captures how our relationship with not just the genre, but the technology we use every day, is evolving.

That’s exactly it. Too often do film plots abuse and exaggerate the portrayals of computing and science technology simply because it would be easier or “more cinematic” that way. This film understands and embraces the limitations of present-day technology and artfully exploits it for its texture and style.

It may not technically be cinéma vérité, but the film borrows its techniques and uses it to great effect. Sure, the plot won’t win any creativity awards (or any other awards, for that matter), but there is something refreshingly honest about this film that appeals to the jaded, cynical critic in me. And that’s pretty impressive for a monster movie.