Review of The Cloverfield Paradox (2018) by Isaiah L — 06 Feb 2018

Well, what can we say about The Cloverfield Paradox.

Oh, lots. This film had every opportunity. J.J. Abrahams, the Cloverfield universe. Super Bowl ad, major, major hype. How can this go wrong??

Well, the story. No matter how mysterious and intriguing the property is, if there's no substance and backbone to prop it up, well, it's going to fall pretty hard.

I really wanted to like The Cloverfield Paradox. I semi-enjoyed the original Cloverfield and downright LOVED 10 Cloverfield Lane save for, the last 15 minutes or so.

I don't think it's a big surprise to learn that these films were never meant to be part of the Cloverfield universe. Mediocre scripts get polished and branded and WAH-LA! Cloverfield. Well, that worked well with 10 Cloverfield Lane. The performances by Goodman and Winstead balanced the tension brilliantly, and while TCP has some fun and though provoking moments, it fails to hit the mark as not only a Cloverfield squeal but just a generic Sci-Fi movie in general. Cloverfield aside, this is a weak film with too many loose ends and not enough reality. When I say that I mean the characters seems to accept their reality too easily. Merged dimensions and missing the bus seem to encompass the same reactions.

Event Horizon pulls this movie off much better with more emotion. Dated? Yes. But the superior space-fear film.

TCP IS still an important entry in the franchise as the story of TCP is the basis for all the Cloverfield movies past and present, hence the Tagline: The Future Unleashed Everything.

As with any Sci-fi/Horror franchise there will be winners and losers. This one, while detrimental to the story, is simply a loser. My best wishes for Cloverfield 4, which I will absolutly be checking out because one bad episode does not a series make.

Cloverfield is aspiring to be a modern cinematic Twilight Zone and Bad Robot and crew definitely have a batting average that make me excited for next season. They can't all be zingers, but the Cloverfield universe is still alive and well and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for anthology driven cinema.

The Cloverfield Paradox is a sub-par film, but what it represents for future independent film makers, screenwriters and directors, is the future of Hollywood. No longer does an indie film need to languish in obscurity. Now, if your writing and film is good enough, you have a shot. No Hollywood "ins" no BS. Just have a decent flick and you have a shot.

This Cloverfield isn't even very good. That should inspire every writer out there who's dreaming for a produced screenplay.

You ARE good enough. And your movie CAN be the biggest thing in America...... for like 6 hours.