REVIEW: 10 Cloverfield Lane different than expected – in a good way

Sometimes, Hollywood likes to pull a bait and switch on audiences. Take “10 Cloverfield Lane”, for example. You might think, given the title and the producing role taken by J.J. Abrams, the “10 Cloverfield Lane” is a sequel to the found-footage monster mash “Cloverfield”, or at least connected to it in some way. And yet, the only thing these two movies share is the word “Cloverfield” in the title.

Thankfully, “10 Cloverfield Lane” has its own identity, and can stand on its own, without any shaky camera footage of people fighting giant monsters. This movie may be set in the same universe as “Cloverfield”, but it’s a different experience.

”10 Cloverfield Lane” opens with Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) walking out on her relationship. On the way to wherever she’s fleeing, she wrecks her car and awakens to find herself handcuffed to the wall in a little concrete room.

Michelle is told she was brought there by Howard (John Goodman) and that some sort of attack has rendered the entire outside environment deadly toxic. However, Michelle soon begins to suspect that Howard isn’t what he seems, and she plots to escape with the help of fellow bunkmate resident Emmett (John Gallagher, Jr.).

This movie is about mystery, claustrophobia and paranoia. A vast majority of the movie is Michelle, Howard and Emmett stuck in the bunker. They don’t know for sure what’s happened, and Howard’s shady background ratchets up the tension.

John Goodman owns this movie. You can tell just by looking at him that he’s mentally unhinged, but he doesn’t go overboard with a lot of overacting or flailing about. It’s a commanding performance that once again proves how great an actor Goodman is.

Winstead turns in good work as well, though her role as written is a little clichéd. Still, her eyes, full of fear and desperation, are the film’s best visual image. Gallagher plays a decent guy who buys Howard’s story until Michelle starts showing him unsettling clues.

In his first feature directorial debut, Dan Trachtenberg keeps the tension high and the story moving in spite of its cramped setting. It’s a good filmmaker who can keep your attention when the majority of what you’re seeing is close-up shots of people talking. Trachtenberg does just that, and I think he’s got a bright future ahead of him.

3 ½ Indy Fedoras out of 5

MPAA Rating: PG-13