10 Cloverfield Lane (Review) - Claustrophobic & Thrilling

10 Cloverfield Lane is a reasonably unique movie in today's landscape, in that the first trailer for it appeared mere months ago and now it's already available for viewing. Arguably, this is the best way to go about releasing a movie, because it allows copious hype to retain until the film's release; rather than peter off over the course of many months and many, many trailers. Because of this, there's a good chance you haven't heard much about its plot - keep it that way. The less you know about this genuinely uncomfortable thriller, the better. 

The film opens to Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) leaving her boyfriend after the two of them have a fight. She drives far from their home and ignores the numerous calls he sends to try and patch things up. After stopping for gas, Michelle is suddenly struck by another driver and thrown off the road. When she awakens, she finds herself imprisoned in an underground bunker, and her supposed captor, Howard (John Goodman), informs her that the world has come to an end; however, we soon come to realise that maybe Howard isn't telling the entire truth. As the film plays out, you're left guessing whether Michelle is overly judgemental of Howard, or whether his intentions are notably more sinister. 

This aspect of 10 Cloverfield Lane is one which makes the film a genuine thrill to sit through. Up until the very closing scenes you're left guessing whether Michelle will make it out alive (or whether she'd even want to), which leads to some truly heart-pounding moments. John Goodman is a physically imposing presence in the cramped bunker, and it's clear that he could murder Michelle if he so desired. This being a reality, coupled with the fact that Howard constantly carries a revolver around, and you've got yourself some pretty tense moments to deal with. Additionally, Michelle isn't the only 'survivor' who gets to deal with Howard's scarily drastic emotional shifts; the couple are joined underground by the wise-cracking Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.), who does nothing but raise tensions when they need anything but. 

And the best part? It's a film that doesn't reveal all its cards at once. Throughout the movie and the numerous fights, you're left guessing whether Howard is crazy or just protective. You don't know Emmett's true motives. Really, you don't even know much about the protagonist, Michelle. All you know is that three people are underground, and one of them thinks that this is the best place for them to be. This means that, once twists and turns do start occurring, you're left wondering as to what they could mean - it's really intriguing stuff. In fact, certain plot lines are never truly concluded - which is great! If only the conclusion of the film could learn from this open-endedness exhibited earlier on. 

Now, I won't spoil the ending outright, but I've got some strong opinions about why it comes close to ruining the rest of the film. Thankfully, the excellent acting on behalf of John Goodman saves what could be a complete catastrophe, but it's apparent that an original, suspenseful thriller was marred by the necessity to include the 'Cloverfield' brand. Just know this: the film should have ended at least 10 minutes early. Any sense of mystery or intrigue is completely squandered by the closing scenes, and I won't say which way the film sways, but just know that there is definitely a definite ending; an ending which ought to have been cut majorly. Without these glaring answers, 10 Cloverfield Lane would have been a close-to perfect film. With them, however, you've got an excellent thriller that leaves you with a slightly sour taste - a thriller that can still be enjoyed regardless, though. 

Verdict
Despite the hugely controversial ending, 10 Cloverfield Lane is still a hugely engrossing movie with some excellent performances and pacing. Yes, it's clear to see where the original idea ends and the marketing necessities begin, but it's still a film well worth your time and money. Some people may say, "leave 10 minutes early," but I'd implore you to witness the ending so that you can form your own opinions on it's relevance. Still, ignoring this, it remains one of the most thrilling thrillers that I've seen in a very, very long time. 

"Don't open that door! You're going to get all 

of us killed!"