Dan Trachtenberg’s impressively strong directorial debut “10
Cloverfield Lane” is a genre bending, gripping, psychological thriller. Dan Trachtenberg has done what few directors
have done. He has achieved both critical and box office success with his
feature film debut.
Dan
Trachtenberg is not yet a household name but he is no stranger to fans of
science fiction. He first rose to prominence with the short film “Portal: No
Escape” based on the popular video game.
Similar
to Amblin Entertainment and Steven Spielberg in the 1980’s Bad Robot has used
the name of the production company’s owner to market the film. Despite “10
Cloverfield Lane” being heavily
marketed as producer J.J. Abrams’ film due to his name recognition this is one
hundred percent a Dan Trachtenberg film. Due to commitments associated with directing
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Mr. Abrams was largely unavailable during
production and postproduction on “10 Cloverfield Lane”.
The
comparisons to Amblin Entertainment don’t stop with the marketing campaign.
Trachtenberg is a self described Amblin kid citing the early Spielberg classics
like “Jaws”, Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, and “Poltergeist” as some of
his favorite and most influential movies. You can certainly see those
influences in “10 Cloverfield Lane”.
Like
the shark in “Jaws” the threat of monsters attacking and the implication of
their existence as opposed to seeing them are used to ratchet up the tension
and help propel the plot. Trachtenberg uses strong interpersonal relationships
to tell his narrative instead of stunts or effects.
In the theatrical
tradition of a chamber play the majority of “10 Cloverfield Lane” takes place
in an underground bunker. Once inside the bunker the audience is immersed in a
taught thriller. The practical sets and art design add to the atmosphere and
texture of the world created in “10 Cloverfield Lane”.
The subterranean bunker exists eerily outside
of time. The sets are dressed with details that create a nebulous time that is
somewhere between lava lamps and VHS tapes. Despite the detailed and expert
art-design the sets still look organic and lived in.
The
bunker is populated by Michelle played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Howard
played by John Goodman, and Emmett played by John Gallagher Jr. The small cast
and claustrophobic location allow for the tension and drama to build like a
Hitchcock thriller. Is the danger from the threat of monsters outside the
bunker or the all too human monsters within the bunker? Just like a Hitchcock
thriller “10 Cloverfield Lane” keeps the audience guessing if its paranoia is
warranted or not.
John
Goodman’s chilling portrayal of Howard and his characters dynamic with Michelle
create a relationship that is frighteningly like an abusive parent child
relationship. Howard thinks he is being loving and protective but his love is frightening
and his protection could be lethal. In his performance there is no trace of the
loveable Dan Conner. The role he made famous on the hit TV show “Roseanne”.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead does a
lot of heavy lifting in this film. The role of Michelle requires her to play a
myriad of different emotions not to mention she also appears in every scene.
“10
Cloverfield Lane” has a creative narrative structure. The narrative ellipse
that takes place between Michelle’s car accident in the beginning of the film
and her waking up in the bunker allows for the audience to discover things as
Michelle does. Due to this narrative device when she is wrong or deceived so is
the audience.
“10 Cloverfield Lane” isn’t your typical
Hollywood blockbuster. It is a film that is judicious in its use of CGI to
great effect. Instead of relying on large elaborate stunts and CGI Dan
Trachtenberg expertly uses art design and stellar acting to convey his story. Don’t
let the threat of Cloverfield monsters attacking keep you trapped inside your
bunker, go see “10 Cloverfield Lane”!
