10 Cloverfield Lane - Blu-ray Review

Details: By Loron Hays; 11 March 2016

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10 Cloverfield Lane - Movie Review

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With more bang than it has any right to, 10 Cloverfield Lane sizzles as a convergence of two seemingly unrelated ideas provide an entertaining and wildly cracked ride. It is, hands down, the best genre film I've seen since Cabin in the Woods. High praise indeed and, trust me, it is well earned. You just have to go with the gonzo gum it is chewing.

Bad Robot – with notable secrecy and effective misdirection – gives audiences the stuff of nightmares with 10 Cloverfield Lane. The feature debut from director Dan Trachtenberg is a collection of close-ups, jump scares and static shots but it all builds up to an unforgettable experience that few can see coming.

It's destined to be a cult classic. After all, how does one successfully sell a film like this? It is both suspenseful and full of mystery and intrigue. And yet the whole sci-fi angle takes it into interesting and unexpected places and it does it all in the confines of a very small location.

Toying with audience expectations, 10 Cloverfield Lane is the genre mash-up your empty stomach has been craving. Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Warren in a very commanding performance) wakes from a car crash and discovers that she's been saved by a hulking doomsday fanatic, Howard (the consistently underrated John Goodman), and is not free to leave his shelter due to the chaos and death reigning down on them from above. That's what he tells her at least.

But this lonely and noble dude will keep you on the edge of your seat. So will Emmet (John Gallagher Jr.), who had to fight his way into the bunker and is a constant foil to Michelle. Whatever is happening inside the bunker pales in comparison to what's happening outside, right?

While you are all the better for knowing as little about the film as possible, it is interesting to note that it provides audiences with enough context clues to understand its relationship to Cloverfield without taking the piss out of its own mojo. This is, after all, a much different film than Matt Reeves' monster-sized effort.

The fact is simple: 10 Cloverfield Lane – written by Josh Campbell, Matt Stuecken, and Damien Chazelle – is an example of strong writing that flips the script on the audience. Go in without any preconceived notions and you will be best served by the polished psychosis residing at 10 Cloverfield Lane.

This is my kind of science fiction B-movie cocktail.

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MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic material including frightening sequences of threat with some violence, and brief language.
Runtime: 103 mins
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Writer: Josh Campbell; Matthew Stuecken; Damien Chazelle
Cast: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr.
Genre: Mystery | Sci-fi
Tagline: Monsters come in many forms
Memorable Movie Quote: "You don't kow what's out there"
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Official Site: http://www.10cloverfieldlane.com/
Release Date: March 11, 2016
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: No details available
Synopsis: Waking up from a car accident, a young woman finds herself in the basement of a man who says he's saved her life from a chemical attack that has left the outside uninhabitable.

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10 Cloverfield Lane - Movie Review

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - June 14, 2016
Screen Formats: 2.40:1
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit); Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1; French: Dolby Digital 5.1; Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD-50, 1 DVD); UV digital copyiTunes digital copy; ; Digital copy; DVD copy
Region Encoding: A, B

Released courtesy of Paramount, this digitally shot film makes for a visually appealing 1080p transfer. The MPEG-4 AVC encode, presented in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, does not disappoint. Textures are up front with a special emphasis on faces. Fine details are strong throughout, too. The colors are bold and sharp and the black levels are often on point with deep and engaging shadows. While the digital nature of the shoot can be a bit specified, the details in the close quarters never bury the action on the screen. The Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless core) soundtrack is fully engaged and offers much lift to the picture, complete with its own hum and buzzing of fluorescent lights deep down in the bunker. No need to turn this up, though, it’s guaranteed to shake the floors.

Supplements:

Commentary:

There is a scene specific commentary provided by Director Dan Trachtenberg and Producer J.J. Abrams. This is Trachtenberg’s first feature and his excitement is (and knowledge) should not be ignored. He knows his stuff and, with Abrams at his side through the commentary, the two discuss the structure of the film and its characters.

Special Features:

Included on the disc are cast and crew interviews highlighting the film’s connection to Cloverfield, designing the bunker, and Trachtenberg’s direction. There is also a feature discussing a key costume moment, building practical effects, and a look at the sound design of the film. The visual effects also get their own space to breathe. Rounding out the collection is a brief look at the music in the picture and a look at how the film connects to the original film. A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy are included with purchase.