Cloverfield (7)

Yes, this is a title frame of the film - its of a home film now owned by the armed forces.

This is a documentary like, home movie amateur shaky filming horror. Like Blair Witch Porject, I guess (I've not seen it). But don't be put off, it is surprisingly good, a definitely enjoyable 7.

While a bunch of 20-somethings are filming the farewell arty for their Rob rob, Manhattan is attacked by a Godzilla-like monster. The ensueing running and stumbling and dodging and searching and rescuing friends and handy-cam filming make up the rest of the film. There is no explanation for the monster; this is simply a story about a small group of friends who try to flee the terror and escape Manhattan while the ared forces try to deal with the monster. As the city gets more and destroyed, they run and get terrifyingly close the to the beast. That's pretty much it... except...

except... that it is actually quite a jump inducing, gripping horror. Perhaps because of the empathy of the helpless main characters is so well built up, perhaps because there is no pseudo-scientific poor explanation foisted upon it, and also perhaps because of it's rough real-world handy cam filming, it is a "believable". But the thing that it lacked, the main thing, was something for me to ponder - it's an action and thrill but it's also a no brainer.

Some of the things I find that I miss is at least some steady cinematic shots and at least a little climatic musical score (the only bit is at the closing credits). That's a shame because it is pretty good, but perhaps the handy-cam realism got in my way a bit too much.