Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr. and Cindy Hogan
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg
Release Date: March 11, 2016
In this spin-off of the 2008 movie Cloverfield, the title and content of the film could fool audiences into believing that 10 Cloverfield Lane is the direct sequel. However, it is not, as the background story and plot differ. The storyline contains many dissimilarities such as trust and deception, loyalty and betrayal and helpfulness and spitefulness as the main character Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) tries to escape a frightening scenario. Thus far, 10 Cloverfield Lane has grossed $63.6 million but casting for a sequel is still unknown.
The movie starts out with Michelle packing up her belongings and leaving her fiancée, Ben (Bradley Cooper). While she is driving, Ben continuously calls her, drifting her attention from the road to her phone. Michelle’s vehicle is then seen being run off the road onto an enbankment. She survives this accident only to end up in a sealed bunker beneath the farm of her rescuer Howard (John Goodman). She is lying on a mattress connected to IV’s and bandaged up as Howard tries to convince her that he has saved her from doomsday, with very little success. In a state of despair, Michelle tries everything she can to escape, unaware that they are under an apocalyptic catastrophe.
After being held in the bunker for a few days, Michelle meets Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.), a young man who helped Howard build the bunker. While Howard, constantly reminds the two that he is saving them, they continue to dig for dirt on Howard due to their own suspicions. After discovering that he lied about having a daughter and also about Michelle’s accident, the two expeditiously devise a plan to escape but also survive whatever chemicals have been released into the air. Their plan is to create biochemical protective gear with the supplies in Howard’s bunker. This plan goes side ways as one will escape to realize there is some truth to Howard’s doomsday theory and the other will face the wrath of Howard.
From the beginning to the end, this film will have movie-goers on the edge of their seat contemplating what will happen next. Even after the film is over with, their will still be many questions in the air. This movie shines a rare light on a side the audience rarely gets a chance to see in apocalyptic and alien invasion movies. Viewer discretion is advised due to profanity and a moderate amount of violence. 10 Cloverfield Lane receives 7.7 stars out of 10 stars.