[CRITICAL] 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

Greatly anticipated by fans, it is more unexpected that leaves the “more-or-less sequel to” Cloverfield (2008), kept a long time secret. Sequel ? Prequel ? Difficult to define what 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE , which has its predecessor than the name. The style of found footage is abandoned for a realization of the most classic, and nothing binds new characters to old ones. Only the theme and the universe are similar. Namely, follow a group of survivors after an attack, a priori, Alien on american soil. A daring choice, but for the less intelligent. Because at a time when sequels, remakes and making reboots a thing, all specifically formatted, are legion, and where the slightest “good recipe” is immediately derivatives, the chain, this approach reveals a true originality. She opens the door to a potential franchise, Cloverfield, while allowing the developer to offer a personal work by freeing themselves from the original film.

We discover behind the camera Dan Trachtenberg. Hitherto unknown, the director had made the hand with his short film Portal : No Escape ( live action inspired by the video game Portal). A course which is reminiscent of Wes Ball, who seized control of the saga The Maze after having realized that a short, Ruin, which was judged to be promising. Like him, Trachtenberg launches in 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE with the idea of putting HIS paw to the production of J. J. Abrams, reintroducing the same elements from his first film (the awakening of its heroine, the room in which it is located, its character of a strong and active). Thus, 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE is more like a thriller behind closed doors and away completely from what we imagined at the mention of the title Cloverfield. After a car accident, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wakes up in a cellar, with the leg attached. Immediately, she imagines (rightly) to have been abducted and thought to be sequestered. Howard (John Goodman), the man who seems to hold on to him reveals that the country has been affected by a strike unknown. And, because of potential fallout toxic it is impossible to get out of the bunker in which he has collected, she and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.).

Keeping his camera at the sides of his heroine, in a simple way but effective, the director puts us in his place, in his situation that seems to be a time of unlikely. Thus, the confinement is palpable and disturbing, and we’re immediately captivated by the 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE. But above all, the doubts of Michelle become the same for the viewer. Dan Trachtenberg is not only user effects set the scene to provoke the anxiety of the viewer. He does it in us to live through the heroin to which it is attached. Because if the situation does not seem so normal in the eyes of Michelle, it is precisely because there is something strange in the history of Howard, and in the manner in which the director we unveils. Hard to say if this last is a dangerous psychopath or just too focused on the theory of the conspiracy. Is it the russians who bombarded the country with secret weapons, an alien attack, or a lie for Howard to keep both refugees captive ?

The scenario (including Damien Chazelle, surprise) manages to clever way to confirm or disprove each hypothesis, and we induce regularly in error. Justifying the actions of Howard, and his attitude, by his paranoia, dealing here with a certain irony, a look at this America, post cold War. Be wary of the occupants that it has collected, and dictating its rules to the letter for his own safety, Howard manages to legitimize his acts, and sometimes even to inspire confidence. Punctuated by twists and turns found, 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE is a success story, managing to leave his heroine (and us) in the face of uncertainty and in the face of a deep malaise.

“A confinement is palpable and disturbing. 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE captive immediately.”

Of course this situation is strange to say the least would not work as well without his trio of interpreter. John Goodman in the lead, in which the (omni)presence of physical and imposing only reassures never really. The actor gives to each of its replicas has a double meaning and thus mount a tension crescendo. In front of him, we find with great pleasure, Mary Elizabeth Winsted (the “Ramooooonaaaaa ” Scott Pilgrim). The actress that one regrets not to see more often, takes its role to perfection. Fragile at first, it proves to be active, all the more highlighted by the very just passivity, or even naivety, from John Gallagher Jr. (Newsroom). The young woman successful to be credible in this role is physical and will appear as the film as a true heroine badass – one of the last scenes of the film, which is necessarily smile, insists on this character. It is said thatAlien had Ripley, 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE will be Michelle ! As empathetic as combative and the same ability to get out of complex situations by his ingenuity. If by its protagonists, the director manages to keep us in suspense as soon as the car accident, very well-staged, and include even a few hints of humor well-found in their daily lives is being put in place (excellent parts of games companies), it will miss a final a little too easily dispatched. An element that does not prevent 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE to be particularly effective and taking. Remains to be hoped that he will show the way to other “suites” of equally good quality.

Stone Siclier

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