Cloverfield (PG-13, 2008)

common sense media says

Tense monster movie is loud, hectic -- and scary.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this monster movie from the creator of Lost rightly comes with a warning for viewers who are sensitive to unsteady camerawork -- the entire movie is filmed from a handheld perspective, and the images are frequently hectic and loud. Violence includes monster attacks, people running and screaming, people bitten by creatures in dark spaces, explosions, ruined buildings and landmarks, fire, bloody bodies, and military strikes. Some of the imagery initially recalls scenes from 9/11. An early scene shows a young woman in bed (presumably after sex), her naked back and side visible (nothing explicit). A party scene shows cleavage and drinking. Language includes repeated uses of "s--t" and some "damns" and "hells."

Positive messages:  The monster's motivations are never revealed -- it's just a force for the horrific.
Positive role models: The hero resolves to find his lover who's trapped many blocks away; he and his friends make a noble trek to find her.
Violence: First apparent explosion jars the camera, shuts down power, and leads characters to worry about an earthquake or terrorist attack. Later images recall 9/11 in NYC (building crumbles; dust cloud sweeps through the street; people run, scream, and stumble). TV reports show fires and buildings and a bridge collapsing. Large reptilian monster is occasionally visible (roaring, smashing buildings); smaller/sharp-toothed monsters attack protagonists in a very dark subway tunnel. Most of the action focuses on victims panicking, with loud smashing and booming on the soundtrack. Military assaults (explosions, missiles, gunfire, bombs).
Sex: Early scene shows a naked woman in bed, her back visible. Party scene shows woman's cleavage, especially as the cameraman is drawn to women's bodies (his shifting focus serves as light comedy).
Language: Repeated uses of "s--t," as well as "hell," "goddamn," and some slang ("douchebag").
Consumerism: Some brief background shots: Aquafina, Mountain Dew.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Party scene shows drinking (beer, liquor) and a bar stocked with bottles.

More on Cloverfield

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about whether the movie's images remind them of 9/11. Do you think that was intentional? How has that event -- so much of which was captured in the media and shown on television -- affected subsequent horror/action movies?

  • Why is New York such an attractive target city in these movies?

  • Does the handheld camerawork make the action scarier? Why or why not? What other movies/media have used this approach?

  • Is the movie accurate in its depiction of how public events are documented (immediately filmed, commented on, blogged about, etc.) in today's world?

What's the story?

What's the story?

CLOVERFIELD begins quietly: Rob (Michael Stahl-David) wanders through an apartment overlooking Central Park, his video camera alighting on his pretty lover, Beth (Odette Yustman). They flirt and talk about visiting Coney Island, though tensions emerge when that same camera documents Rob's going-away party -- newly promoted at work, he's on his way to Japan. But such trivial concerns are quickly dispelled when a giant, reptilian monster attacks New York in an assault that initially recalls 9/11, with flaming buildings, clouds of dust, and screaming victims. Despite the risk, Rob, Lily (Jessica Lucas), Marlena (Lizzy Caplan), and Hud (T.J. Miller) make their way from downtown to rescue Beth, who's trapped in her midtown apartment. As they skitter along sidewalks and trudge through dark subway tunnels, they dodge the big monster, smaller bat-like creatures, and frightening military assaults.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Combining low-budget grit with spectacular effects, the film uses its tightly focused, handheld documentary premise (recalling The Blair Witch Project) to make the monster plot extra scary. The lack of context or explanation for the attack echoes feelings of panic on 9/11, when no one could anticipate what would happen next. While the romantic quest to rescue Beth provides a recognizable plot and some events will look familiar (looting, collapsing high-rises and bridges, people using cell phones to document disaster), unlike in many similar films, here you can never be sure what's around the next corner.

But for all its mystery, the monster is mostly an excuse for the film's more ambitious experiment: creating characters out of moment-by-moment action, rather than compelling emotion. As they're thrown almost immediately into chaos, none of them are particularly well-drawn or even sympathetic. Instead, they're emotional sketches of fear and uncertainty rather than individuals with backgrounds and futures. As you can see by the several other anonymous figures who pull out their cell phones to capture the turmoil, the movie's characters are of a generation completely at ease with the concept that they should document everything around them, as well as their own "testimonies." Defined by its time and place (post-9/11 America), the film is clever, harrowing, and a wild ride.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, Michael Stahl-David
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 84 minutes
Theatrical release: January 17, 2008
DVD release: April 21, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: violence, terror and disturbing images.
Watch our review

This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12

Most useful reviews by all members

Doodelium
kid, 13 years old
 
Am I missing something?
This movie was not good. Maybe it gets better as it prgresses but I could only bear 45 minutes. It was really boring and confusing. The fact that a monster was attacking the city just made the movie unbelievable and stupid. I would not suggest this movie to anyone.

Steelclaw1313
teen, 13 years old
 
I thought it was ok. The ending was, i think, pretty bad (sad really not violent). Not too sexual, but i liked it overall.

scdaat10
kid, 12 years old
 
perfect for 10+ year olds or Even 9 Year olds with parental supervision
I've seen this movie its bloody but not gory only one girl survives at the end of the movie also this movie is from the direcor of Let me In

jjz514
teen, 15 years old
 
Good for little thrill seekers, but not that scary
Absolutely great film. I thought action, and suspense built up the story, and made the ending very good. I thought that the characters were good role models for caring for others, and not just running away, instead going towards the action to rescue someone. This movie did in some way remind of the Alien/Predator movies, I don't think this really counts as spoiling, but very slowly, but surely, the characters all die off except for 1. All in all, this is a great film if you are a small thrill seeking audience.

Roemilca
teen, 18 years old
 
some disturbing scenes push the "PG-13" limit.
Honestly this movie just depends on if you get scared easily or not. There's a LOT of things you didn't mention though. A main character sees the monster and becomes mentally unstable for the rest of the movie, she later gets a grotesque gash from being bitten, and her eyes start to bleed and she explodes behind a curtain. In that scene, there's also someone who's (supposedly) dead, with a hole where his stomach should be. You only see that for a couple of seconds, but it really pushed the limit. There's also another seen with a woman who got pinned to the ground by an object that impaled her through the chest. It gets pulled out, and obviously that's a bit graphic. It was a bit too much for me when I saw it, so make sure your child can handle it.

KforKitty101
teen, 15 years old
 
:D
It would been 5 stars, it was so cool, but i got sick from the shaky camera

Jourdy288
teen, 17 years old
 
I was impressed!
Cloverfield is, in my opinion, an excellent monster movie. Shot in first person, the film is definitely quite frightening (it's almost as if you're in the movie!). Acting was decent, as was the script. There was some violence, primarily against the monsters that invaded the city, and the film was definitely quite frightening. I could not recommend it to younger children.

 
worst
THIS MOVIE SUCKS

BlueDragonMaster98
teen, 18 years old
 
iffy
Most of the sex and drinking is in the immediate beginning, while the rest of the film is violence. It's still good and worth seeing. Don't expect much in terms of an overall story to the beast.

yesman-1
teen, 18 years old
 
meh...
this movie is another cliche monster movie with a (spoiler alert?) crappy ending... its got some cool parts, but its mostly just a shaky camera and nervous moments..

minaj
teen, 17 years old
 
alien
it was fine good even if it looked like a homemade video but some graphics were disturbing

deadman13
teen, 13 years old
 
Good movie
This movie is more suspensiveful than scary. I dont remember if there is alot of blood or not. People say it is funny but it is not funny at all. I think there should be a sequel. Good movie

ironkid21
kid, 13 years old
 
this movie rocks!!!!!!
I love this movie!!!!!! The camera may be shaky but thats the only problem. It's very intense but ages 10+ can handle it.

Jadenp
teen, 15 years old
 
Great movie teens+
Suggested MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and terror, disturbing images, and language. Great movie! Language isn't THAT bad... no f words. Just about 18 sh**'s. Fine for teens

icedragon236
teen, 16 years old
 
this is a really good movie and i love it

coralinefan020 ...
teen, 15 years old
 
Cloverfield = Success
Cloverfield is a bloody but excellent alien invasion movie. Some people may complain about the camera, but it's realistic and it honestly wasn't annoying. Overall, if you like alien invasion movies then watch it, some bloody scenes, and the special effects were really good, great ending as well.

EmilyB123
teen, 15 years old
 
Coverfield
This movie is made from a hand held camera and it can get a little annoying when it shakes and spins, at least that's what i thought.

chaosarcee
kid, 12 years old
 
AWSOME!!!This movie is pretty gory but not too bad...

cutiepiee
teen, 15 years old
 
early teens and older teens
the movie overall is absolutely fantastic and the way they did it with the video camera is really clever, however it does include human size spider things attacking people and a giant one aswell. This movie also has on girl bitten by one and through a curtain she gets shot, blood splattering the curtain hope this helps/

Annimanni
kid, 14 years old
 
lol
it's awesomeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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