10 Cloverfield Lane is definitely a JJ Abrams related movie. It shrouds itself in secrecy, ready to twist unexpectedly (if you care, there may be SPOILERS AHEAD). It also reboots a dead franchise, in this case, his own. And finally, it struggles with its landing after a strong beginning.
Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is running away from her relationship. On the road, she gets sideswiped and wakes up in an underground bunker chained to the wall. Her savior/captor is Howard (John Goodman), a former military man who informs her that Louisiana has been attacked, and they have to live underground due to possible chemical warfare. Howard also brought Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) into the bunker, but not after a struggle. The three are forced into an uneasy peace as they wait out what happened to the world above them.
The biggest strength of 10 Cloverfield Lane (10 C L) is its atmosphere. After a brief intro, we are immediately jarred into suspense during the credits. The bunker time is the films highlight. Immediately there are juxtapositions everywhere: why does this guy who trapped me down here feed me well? Why does Howard constantly mention his daughter around Michelle? How did Emmett hurt his arm? All these little issues build the feeling of deep dread, which when coupled with the claustrophobic bunker, makes you realize this situation is an untenable powder keg, and the explosion is probably going to be messy.
And then the third act comes. The resolution of the bunker situation is ok, I was satisfied by it. But the claustrophobia and character building gets replaced by standard chills and thrills. There’s little tension to speak of, and the biggest complaint of the original Cloverfield, the shaky cam, rears its ugly head. It’s almost like the writers backed themselves into a wall, and did the best they could without ruining the movie wholeheartedly.
The acting is strong among the three principals. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is one of the better working actors around that doesn’t get enough attention for it. She is asked to drive much of the plot in 10 C L, and utilize many acting tricks in many acting situations. Winstead nails all of it, including the tonal change near the end of the film. John Gallagher Jr. is asked to be a simpleton, but his charm gives the character an emotional nakedness sorely lacking among the two leads, a nice complement. But John Goodman, welcome back! I don’t know why he has not been asked to lead a movie in a while; doesn’t matter. Goodman makes Howard a frightening contradiction, giving the bunker scenes an unpredictability that surges the movie’s momentum.
10 Cloverfield Lane succeeds as an Abrams film. I am at least a little intrigued what they do if they make a second one. I will say, 10 Cloverfield Lane feels more narcissistically self serving, since Abrams was heavily involved in the first. Way to jump start your own franchise for more bucks JJ. You get a pass since you brought back Star Wars.