Cinepals - CLOVERFIELD Reaction & Review!

Episode Date: August 8, 2024

Achara & Kristen watch "Cloverfield," a popular & thrilling found-footage monster film that follows a group of friends in New York City as they navigate chaos and destruction while documenting the terrifying attack of a gigantic creature. This film is directed by Matt Reeves (War for the Planet of the Apes & The Batman), & it stars: Michael Stahl-David (Narcos & The Light of the Moon), Odette Annable (House & Supergirl), T.J. Miller (Silicon Valley & Deadpool), Jessica Lucas (Evil Dead & Gotham), Lizzy Caplan (Mean Girls & Now You See Me 2), and Mike Vogel (The Help & Under the Dome). Join our Patreon https://www.Patreon.com/JabyKoay or become a YouTube member for access to full length watchalong reactions! SOCIAL MEDIA: ~CINEPALS~ YouTube: @CinePals Insta: https://instagram.com/TheCinePals Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCinePals ~ACHARA KIRK~ Twitter & Instagram:  @Acharakirk  YouTube:  @Achara  ~KRISTEN STEPHENSONPINO~ Instagram: @Kris10Kesp

Senna. Welcome, it's Achara Kirk, joined by Kristen Seffinson Pino, and we are checking out Cloverfield. Are you ready? We are. Let's go. What do you want to say? What do you want to say? Last thing to begin. I had a good day. Aw. Oh. Aw. Aw. Oh. Oh. That's so sad. It's really sad. Oh, why?

That's horrible. I like that movie. Oh, dang. Well, that was an experience. That was something. I don't even know where to start with this one. You know, at first I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I'm like, oh, whoa, whoa, whoa.

You know, okay, this is what I'll say. Okay, go ahead. I don't like filmed... The found footage. Found footage videos. but they seem to always capture me midway through or so. They always, like, I don't know why or how, but I always hate them in the beginning, always.

And then they always find a way to get me to where I'm, like, so invested. And then I'm like, it makes me die inside. Well, yeah, I think it's like... Because then you, I think after a while, like, then you just kind of... I feel like in the beginning, you want to fight it because you just hate all the shakiness and everything. And then finally, you're just like, I surrender, I give, I'm here, we're here together, we're all right. Like, I think, you know what it is, is that in the beginning, there's kind of a conceit that you have to jump on board with.

Yes. Like, I'm supposed to believe that they're going to tell this whole story through like this one camera angle, through this POV type thing. And somehow we're supposed to believe that all of this works somehow. But then once you kind of jump on board with that conceit and you maybe stop asking questions and the story gets going, because like in the beginning, they set up the human element of it, which is like the relationship between the guy and the girl, between Rob and Beth, right? And so that gives us something to hook onto in terms of like relationship and story wise, which is important, I think. And at first it was a little bit confusing with this one. And then all of a sudden, the moment you get it, though, then you're like, yeah, then you're like, okay, I understand. I get it.

It didn't seem to make sense how they started it with like, oh, this event that happened a few months ago and them kind of having that beautiful moment where they discover like, hey, we actually like really like each other and maybe something could happen. And then nothing happens. And then it's like, oh, this crazy party. And the way it's shot, and this is a thing that happens, I guess, with most or. all found footage type films is like let's assume that the person holding the camera is literally the worst cinematographer you've ever had and they don't know how to hold a camera steady and they're just like all over the place you know like let's just assume that this person wants to make us feel sick and i think that's what happens a lot in these found footage movies

which is why i tend to not really love them but as far as story goes this was actually really compelling, because once the action kicks in, you're like, oh, my God, I'm all in. And the way that they shot this was really clever as well, because, you know, with it being only one camera angle, it's really smart because you can ramp up the tension with a lot of stuff that happens off screen and that you're not seeing. And that actually kind of makes you more anxious because you're like, I don't see it. Like that part where they were underground.

Oh, yeah. And then it's like, oh, turn on the. night vision turn on the night vision and then the night vision turns on and you're like yeah we can see all of them you're like turn it back off I don't want to see it turn it back off yeah it was so good and then like just the really creative ways that they they shot it you know like one that sticks out to me was when we had HUD on the other side of the road and then all the other characters kind of hiding in that alcove that was a good shot yeah and like you can't hear them but you you see the body language and you feel the the like panic and the terror and it's like that tells the story and also stuff like where you know you see the

bottom half of the frame and it's like low to the ground and then the foot of the monster comes and they all they have to do is make that one foot and it fills up the entire frame and the audience knows like this monster is huge yep you know and like you didn't need much no you didn't need much and like little glimpses which was so cool especially in the beginning when you're like watching on the the news report and then you're like oh my god did you see do you see like you know just the flash of a tail or something like that like it's so exciting it is and i think they made these creatures very well yeah like normally when i see creatures in films sometimes i'm like ah it looks too fake for me yeah these ones i actually was like i believe them these ones look pretty good well yeah and i think also

So a couple of that with the kind of found footage style and the way the camera was always moving. It helps. Yeah, because you don't have to like pay too much attention to it. So you're not trying to pick it apart too much as you're watching it. You're just kind of stuck in the action. And it's like, okay, I just want these characters to make it. And then no one does, which is kind of sad. This was really sad.

It was really, really sad. But I actually really, I like, I didn't like the beginning, but I liked it. Yeah. Like, you know what I mean? Like, at the beginning, I was like, oh, my gosh, I was like, this is rough. And then I was like, oh, this is good. This is so good. And I'm like, man, trust the process.

I know. You kept saying trust the process. And I know, like, there's a lot of films where you have to just do that. But sometimes it's so rough and so hard. Like, it's hard sometimes. Yeah. And then the moment you do and just like go, you're just like, oh, my God. Yeah.

No, I thought they did a great job. Yeah, it's such a good. good job with they have a lot of big actors in this which was actually uh like shocking because what was the budget on this I don't know what the what the budget was but they had like quite a like I can't imagine that this was a very like big budget it couldn't have been right no so yeah we had Lizzie Kaplan Tj Miller I really like from what is it the HBO show Silicon Valley he's really funny and I think that was necessary for the character of HUD because

otherwise, you know, it's just so stressful the whole time. And so he's just like, his voice is really funny. So just hearing him and like trying to navigate the situation, just being really awkward and all of that. I was like, yeah. I love him. He was necessary. The cast was like very, like I was not expecting this cast,

but I'm glad they did it. Yeah. Because I was like, I know this, hey, look at that person. Hey, but then you're also kind of like, where are you going with this? And then the moment it hit, you're like, can we go back to them? Yeah. And, I mean, they weren't scared to just, like, take out characters from the beginning.

Like, which was kind of cool. Yeah, I wasn't expecting the brother to just die right away like that. Yeah, that was rough. Yeah. That was sad, too. And, you know, but it's interesting because I feel like even for us, after they took him out, you feel bad. I don't know, for me anyways, I was so caught up in everything that the moment he had his breakdown was when I was like, yeah and I was like well yep the adrenaline like you you're right which are like he didn't

have I didn't even have a problem like a moment no process really until that moment and then I was like because like the pace was relentless you know because you have to keep going it was actually really well paced those moments of like just panic and then the moments of like relative calm and then more panic and the way it ended was really touching actually like It was. Because he went all the way to find her. And in a normal movie, like, you expect, like, oh, okay, he found the girl, you make it. And then, like, you kiss, and then there's a sequel.

And then, and then this one, you're, I couldn't help but wonder, what would happen if you didn't go get her? She was already supposed to do, she was doomed to die anyways. But then at least she didn't have to die alone. Yes, but I'm like, would you all have been still alive if you didn't go back for her? Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe not. But if they had been on the bridge, they would have been at the same point in the bridge that the brother was at. They would have been dead anyway.

So it's like either way, you're screwed. Yeah. What are you going to do? You know? I mean, it was a good film. Yeah. It's a good film. And I'm actually really glad that they didn't try and extend the runtime or anything.

I think it was just the right amount because found footage, especially when it's shot like that. Sometimes they overdo it. Yeah, it's a little bit much to watch for a really long time. And so I think, like, it was just, like, the right amount to get you into the mood and just feel the panic. And it's such an interesting kind of concept as well, because I don't think we normally see it a lot that way, where it's, like, from the ground level, you know, of the people that are struggling to survive in this kind of catastrophe. Like, normally the story is told from the point of view of, like, the heroes, the army people who are coming in or something like that. And it's like, okay. No, we were regular civilians here.

Yeah, just regular civilians. Just trying to survive. Trying to survive, not having any, like, special skills or anything like that. And generally not doing a very good job at surviving because everybody died. Well, but you know what? This was good. It was good. Yeah.

It was definitely. stressed us out. Let us know what you guys thought in the comments below. Were you stressed? Did we make you stressed? I'm sorry. We'll see you next time. I'm a chara cook. This is Chris and stuff is Pina with PTSD. Chao. We out.