In 2008 Cloverfield came out of nowhere to become a surprise hit. The film took the found footage approach to an alien invasion and found an audience with ease. There had been talk for quite a while of a sequel and in 2016 it finally happened with 10 Cloverfield Lane starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, and John Gallagher Jr. This film took a different approach than its predecessor and now Paramount is bringing it home along with the original on 4K Ultra HD for the first time.

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10 Cloverfield Lane follows a young woman who wakes up in an underground cellar after surviving a car accident. She fears she has been abducted by a survivalist who tells her he saved her life and that a worldwide chemical attack has left Earth's surface uninhabitable. Uncertain what to believe, she decides to escape, no matter what dangers she may face outside. Where the original film was kind of intense and all over the place with the chaos, this film is the exact opposite in the best way possible. The subtle nature to the story allows it to stand on its own while building the tension slowly and with creepy focus. There are numerous twists that you kind of expect in one way or another, but due to the way it is crafted it continues to intrigue. Winstead carries the film to perfection bringing a confused innocence tot eh role without ever feeling like a helpless victim.

 

The real treat here was seeing the always great John Goodman taking on such a meaty role. He is menacing, engaging and an enigma of sorts bringing the perfect confusing nature to what he is actually up to at all times. His bipolar mannerisms take this simple story and give it the consistent menace it needs to make it work to perfection. The majority of the film takes place in the bunker with only these three characters as the focus and little focus on the actual issues outside making this a standalone film that you can easily jump right in never seeing the original. The last half of the film is when the real connection to Cloverfield occurs, bringing some cool sci-fi action and the expected aliens to the forefront just long enough to remind you of what was happening outside all along.

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This direction could have gone horribly wrong, but instead Trachtenberg has crafted a great creepy horror sci-fi thriller that is the perfect companion piece that also stand all its own. The ending not only brings things into the world already created in the original Cloverfield, but also set up a possible direction for the next film in the series. Whether they stick to this story or allow each entry to create its own original story to accompany it, if this is any indication of the direction they are going then bring it on. If you loved the originality of Cloverfield when it became a surprise hit, then be sure to check out 10 Cloverfield Lane looking to do the same once again, but packaged in a film that as a whole is actually better overall.

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The talk has begun again for another chapter in the Cloverfield franchise, but once again we wait, but until then you can revisit the first two chapters of the franchise like never before in awesome 4K Ultra HD. In addition to the film in beautiful 4K, this release also includes commentaries and featurettes that take you further behind the mystery of the bunker. Take a unique new look at those affected with 10 Cloverfield Lane available now on 4K Ultra HD for the first time from Paramount Home Entertainment.