'10 Cloverfield Lane' A Review

10 Cloverfield Lane is a scifi thriller about Michelle(Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who leaves her husband and on her way out of town gets in a car accident, is knocked unconscious, and awakens in an underground bunker. Michelle's apparent captor and self-proclaimed savior Howard(John Goodman) advises her an attack has taken place, either governmental or extraterrestrial, and they will be hiding out for some time. She meets another survivor Emmett(John Gallagher, Jr.) who corroborates an attack of some kind however Michelle remains skeptical about the circumstances.

The main cast trio give potent performances lead by the layered and powerful portrayal of Winstead as the lead. She is clever and vulnerable, ferocious and desperate. Goodman as the ambiguously motivated hulking heavy is given his biggest role in years which he sonorously and menacingly takes full advantage of, wonderful to see Goodman able to showcase himself fully after a dearth of supporting roles. Gallagher is the relatively understated normal pivot point around which the two other actors turn, his role isn't nearly as showy or complex but provides a vital grounding of the story.

Visually the film is relatively simple as the majority of it takes place in the claustrophobic retro-styled bunker, the music and the decor creepily recall a family sitcom feel, an outgrowth of Goodman's character's clear and possibly ominous eccentricities. Unadorned as it may be it is effective creating a seemingly innocuous but threatening confined environment.

Vivid performances and a taught narrative make for a great piece of entertainment.

See It.