Review of Super 8 (2011) by Seth Y — 14 Apr 2013

With Super 8, writer and director J.J. Abrams puts viewers into a time machine, paying homage to some of the classic adventure films of the 1980's. This is a refreshing thing to see, and it's executed exceptionally well.

In 1979, a group of friends witness a horrible train crash while filming a movie on a Super 8 camera. After a series of bizarre events and disappearances occur around town, the group begins to believe that the crash wasn't an accident. As the truth is slowly uncovered, it turns out to be something beyond belief.

J.J. Abrams is becoming a household name, and rightfully so. 2008's Cloverfield is one of my favorite science fiction films of all time, so I knew he was capable of making something great. Although he claims this film has no ties to Cloverfield, I really don't believe that for one second. In a way, I think he created a prequel without formally announcing it. The creatures are eerily similar in appearance, which is something I noticed right off the bat. If that is what was intended, I think it's absolutely genius.

The young actors in Super 8 all do a really good job in their roles. You definitely get flashbacks of films like Stand By Me, The Goonies, and E.T while watching this movie. Those are absolute classics, so seeing something that captures a similar feeling is wonderful. The performances, combined with the unique story and fantastic soundtrack all contribute to a very rewarding viewing experience. Super 8 is a really great piece of film. 5 stars.