Tag Archives: Sequel

John Goodman is the Real Monster in ‘10 Cloverfield Lane’

It’s been eight years since Bad Robot’s unorthodox kaiju (giant monster) film Cloverfield was released. Now a “sequel” has slipped in under the radar with 10 Cloverfield Lane. Is it just as terrifying, or does it succumb to the monstrous tropes that plague most horror movies?

Having just survived a car accident, a young woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wakes to find herself held in a bunker by a paranoid man (John Goodman) who claims the world has ended and the surface is uninhabitable. But after talking with another bunker dweller (John Gallagher, Jr), she wonders if everything is as it seems.

A large part of Cloverfield’s success was its brilliantly enigmatic viral marketing campaign. The creature was never shown in any of the promotional materials, leaving it ambiguous as to what it was about. The mystery spawned theories all over the internet (some even going so far as to say it was a secret Godzilla movie), creating a surprising amount of hype. While it technically wasn’t the first “found footage” film ever produced, I’d argue it started the current trend for that style, particularly in horror (although it was amplified by Paranormal Activity). Say what you want about the finished product—whether it was terrifying or nausea-inducing—but it’s impact is indelible.

I say all that because the complete opposite was done with this “blood relative” or “spiritual successor,” as producer J.J. Abrams calls it. I somehow didn’t know about it until January because the promotion was surprisingly sparse. Plus, the film isn’t done in the found footage style. Indeed, it seemed to have little in common with the original aside from a commonality with the title. I didn’t know if it’d be a creature feature, let alone a kaiju movie, aside from a recent trailer that hinted at something huge threatening the characters.

The truth is this is a sequel devoid of “sequel-itis,” as one of my writer friends once said. It has none of the characters from the original, a completely different style and a different setting (Louisiana instead of New York) . There are references to events happening in the world at large, but they aren’t necessarily direct ties to preceding film. Honestly, it’s a stand-alone story someone who’s never seen Cloverfield could watch and not be lost. That isn’t to say that fans of the original, like myself, won’t be rewarded. (More on that in my spoiler section).

10 Cloverfield Lane is a refreshingly old-fashioned horror film. Absent are the cheap gimmicks of excessive gore and stupid characters. If I had to describe it in one word, I’d say, “Tense.” As soon as Michelle, the heroine, awakens after her car accident, there’s almost no respite from the suspense. The filmmakers create fear through setting and character. The bunker is claustrophobic and isolated. Howard, the conspiracy theorist who built it, seems at once to be well-meaning and insane. His claims that the world has ended never seem to be quite accurate. His social awkwardness and temper only inhibits his ability to communicate. As the film progresses and more clues are uncovered, the tension only continues to mount until it reaches a boiling point the last 15 minutes. Bad Robot is to be commended for taking advantage of these and keeping it classy in a genre replete with trash.

Horror stories are often only as good as their antagonists, and 10 Cloverfield Lane is no exception. John Goodman is yet another comedic actor who’s proven he has a wide range. He is simply terrifying in this film. But his character is at once likable and pitiable. He rescues Michelle after her accident. His family, he says, left him years before. He truly believes he’s protecting those in the bunker from mysterious dangers topside. The problem is he’s paranoid and possibly delusional. He has little tolerance for having his authority questioned or his rules broken. While he doesn’t get violent, a threatening aura emanates from him. Only in a few scenes does that let up, and even then it was simply a respite for the audience to relieve tension.

While Goodman is certainly the best actor, his co-stars aren’t lightweights. Winstead plays a resourceful and smart heroine. She’s not easily persuaded by Howard’s claims of the apocalypse. She uses her skills as a fashion designer—seriously—and limited resources to overcome obstacles. But more than that, she’s a young woman who runs from everything whenever it gets tough. She leaves her fiancé—voiced by Bradley Cooper over a cell phone, by the way—at the beginning of the film because they had an argument. Now she’s being forced to face fear. In a genre where women are usually helpless victims or top-heavy eye candy or both, it’s great to see a character in the vein of Nancy from the late Wes Craven’s classic A Nightmare on Elm Street. Gallagher plays Emmitt, a fellow “prisoner” in the bunker. He may be dumb, but he’s loyal and fun-loving. He doesn’t turn into comic relief, though, at least not in the traditional sense. He cracks a few jokes and tries to lighten the mood, but that only happens a few times. He becomes Michelle’s friend and ally in trying to escape the bunker.
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The script itself is tightly written. Every line and scene has meaning, whether it’s an insight into the characters or a foreshadowing of things to come. Each question is answered; every mystery explained (the ones raised within this film, at least). The pacing is just right, never moving too slow or at breakneck speed.

(SPOILER WARNING!)

Is this a kaiju movie? No, it isn’t. It is a creature feature, though. When Michelle escapes to the surface at the end, she discovers that aliens have invaded and are now scouring the countryside for survivors.

So, how does this connect to Cloverfield?

My theory is the monster in the previous film was a bio-weapon used as part of what Howard called “the first wave” of the extraterrestrial attack. This is also implied because the one alien seen in 10 Cloverfield Lane—which was essentially an attack dog that is sure to be someone’s nightmare fuel—had a similar physiology to the Cloverfield monster. Since the creature’s origin was never revealed and only theorized upon by the characters, that gap could easily be filled by a film like this. Also, keep in mind that both films have focused stories with isolated characters. They’re cut off from the rest of the world right as a crisis erupts. This ambiguity gives the filmmakers at Bad Robot enough leeway to expand on what was happening. Admittedly, these connections are implied and not stated, but I think that’s part of the fun of this, well, franchise.

(SPOILERS END)

10 Cloverfield Lane is not only a remarkable horror movie but an excellent film. In an era that sees the horror genre inundated with schlock, a film like this are a breath of fresh air. It shows that horror is best done when it includes good stories and characters.

Final Grade: A-

Final Fantasy VII-2?

Following E3, I found myself bringing up the Final Fantasy VII remake to everyone I know. The announcement was one of the most exciting moments of E3 that I’ve ever witnessed; it turned three grown men into squealing children. Over lunch, a friend and I were discussing the fact that Square Enix has said that the official title will be revealed at the end of the year, which raises some questions. While most will be anticipating FFVII HD Remix or something similar, the possibility of something more is present. My friend jokingly claimed, “It will be like their last big game. Final Fantasy VII-2.” That statement, while enormously funny, blossomed into a couple theories.

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A Rewritten Story

Even though this game holds a special place in the hearts of millions of people, its obvious that the story could’ve been delivered more effectively. Sure, the plot was fairly complex for the time and the characters were interesting. Yet, in a modern gaming environment, the current script would be unacceptable. Compare VII to Telltale’s The Walking Dead, a game that relies solely on the story and the wording of each line of dialogue, which makes Final Fantasy seem like a poor fan fiction. The Walking Dead revitalized a whole genre, using clever dialogue, characterization, and moral dilemmas that rarely left a safe decision. As such, it’s safe to expect a more in-depth narrative in the new Final Fantasy VII.

Reworking the script could expand the world and characters we’ve come to know and love. Think of the depth it could have. Each exchange could be more dynamic, more meaningful. It would be a damn waste to do otherwise. Yet, even though I want these well-deserved changes to the script, I would love to see the classic script as an option.

What do you mean Lightning returns?
What do you mean Lightning returns?

A Sequel

Square Enix is still getting over the sickness of sequel-itis. When Final Fantasy X was given a sequel, many were skeptical and most critics considered it ridiculous. A console generation later, Final Fantasy XIII was released, a solid flop critically and financially, lacking major components that the series was built upon. Not only did Square try to patch things up with a sequel, but a third title as well. Therefore, Square Enix making a straight up sequel to Final Fantasy VII would, unfortunately, fit their pattern.

Would this benefit FFVII? Possibly, but the game would have to be handled very carefully for it to work. A consideration of the game’s current canon would also have to be considered, especially when several games have already been made in its world. It would be interesting to see how the world has changed since the times of Dirge of Cerberus. I’m not sure this would be the best course of action for the game, but it is a possibility I’m willing to mull over. This could also be a chance to bring characters from the expanded canon into the picture; I would love to see Cloud go up against the likes of Genesis.

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Something about the trailer seems like it could be running in the same engine as the Final Fantasy XV demo seen earlier this year. This is more apparent from the angle in which Cloud and Barret are captured. It seems like the player could pick up from there, running down the steamy streets of Midgar.

This slowly led me to imagine playing as Cloud and fighting off waves of enemies in real time, just as I’ve done as Noctis. Think of the cinematic style of Advent Children, made playable. This theory may be a bit of a stretch, but considering the developers are in their twilight, a new way to play would be an interesting and challenging angle for the game.

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A True Classic in Every Sense

I’ve always been a big advocate of playing older games. Often times I avoid picking up newer titles, just because I enjoy the classics much more. However, I’m also a fan of being creativity and taking risks in an industry that has a tendency to be stagnant for many years at a time. One can chart out the patterns gamers have seen over the years, and when games break those conventions it makes those instances that much more memorable.

I loved Final Fantasy VII, even though I agree that it hasn’t aged as well as other titles in the series. Yet, I would love to see the new project—whatever it may become—developed with creative liberty.

Final Fantasy VII being remade was seemingly an impossibility, dangled in front of the noses of fans like a carrot in front of a starving horse. Always, rumors would flood the internet and tech demos were shown and denied, but it finally seems like players will be able to visit Midgar once again.

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Yet, if this title never comes to fruition, I will know true despair.