(spoiler free)
The ‘Cloverfield’ franchise has never been one for conventional promotion and the latest entry, ‘The Cloverfield Paradox’ only continues this trend. With it’s trailer debuting at the 2018 Super Bowl and then being released a mere two hours later on Netflix it will go down in film history as one of the most unique movie releases of all time. However, release aside could the actual film manage to be anything quite as remarkable?
Set in Earth’s near future the population is facing a global energy crisis. In an attempt to solve this problem space agencies from across the globe unite launching the Cloverfield Space Station armed with the tools to potentially create a sustainable energy source for the planet. The crew of the station is made up of an array of recognisable names such as David Oyelowo, Daniel Brühl, Chris O’Dowd & Gugu Mbatha-Raw. The big named cast are enjoyable to watch and the variety of characters creates an initial engagement which is immediately entertaining. Mbatha-Raw stands out, showcasing her abilities as an action star and as a dramatic actress further demonstrating how she can excel in leading roles. None of the other performers really get their time to shine but they largely fulfill their roles adequately. Chris O’Dowd’s character, Mundy, is clearly intended to be the comic relief, however, through no fault of Dowd’s, his comedy never properly lands and does feel forced. Although other than this the performances are fairly effective and feel at home in this sci-fi horror.
The narrative here is certainly the most ambitious of any of the ‘Cloverfield’ films so far. It also does a better job of providing answers as to how it’s connected to the overall universe than what ’10 Cloverfield Lane’ did. The content of this installments story is set up pretty quickly and the audience is spared any thorough details into the scientific side of what’s going on, this will work for some but for others not so much. The film begins as an intriguing mystery and develops into the downright bizarre with some scenes coming off much better than others but as a whole the story is executed well, channeling some serious ‘Event Horizon’ vibes in the process. The subsequent action that occurs as a result of the story is constructed well with the accompanying effects enhancing these sequences, leading the mind to wonder just how much more effective this sci-fi event could have been on the big screen.
Nonetheless regardless of what platform it features on ‘The Cloverfield Paradox’ is a solid installment in one of the most unpredictable film franchises in existence. It leaves the series with a multitude of options as to where it could go next but very much tells its own story, in doing so providing context for what we already know about this universe. It’s not quite as special as the way in which it was released but it’s a welcome chapter in the ‘Cloverfield’ universe with a lot going for it.
Written by Hamish Calvert
Rating – 7/10
Question: What’s your take on the marketing for the ‘Cloverfield’ films?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)
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