10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) really seems like the little movie that did. Following the swath cut by Blumhouse and others, taking a small budget and turning a nice, hefty profit, here is a simple story tautly told with a clever conclusion. Clever in that, despite how questionable John Goodman's mental state is--and the film never fails to spotlight his acrimonious slips in temperamental behavior--what he believes is happening above his underground bunker could very well be accurate!
Elizabeth Winstead has cultivated a niche career for herself but I don't think she is as recognized for a mainstay in horror/thriller despite a host of films on her resume. Here, she suffers a car wreck, but what (or who?) caused it? Awakening in a locked room, she's greeted by misfit Goodman who seems to unapologetically have imprisoned her "for her own good." She pretty much spends most of the film trying to escape. Goodman won't make it easy.
A third character emerges in John Gallagher, Jr. He is a source of constant aggravation to Goodman who clearly and unsettlingly seems interested in having Winstead all to himself. Goodman brings this Pruitt Taylor Vince creepiness that just makes your skin crawl. He could be Malcolm Rivers' brother (Identity reference, sorry). Goodman has put a lot of effort and free time to jazzing up and furnishing the bunker to make it all comfy and homey. So Goodman has put together a solid safehouse to hold up...if only he weren't a psycho!
The trusty air conditioner duct Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea utilized for many an escape and travel to different areas where needed makes a reappearance and is a handy helper to Winstead. Things get really ugly when a gun and acid are used as weapons and Winstead makes special use out of a shower curtain and duct tape for her own makeshift hasmat suit...yeah, she is a clothing designer (another handy quality afforded Winstead's character).
Elizabeth Winstead has cultivated a niche career for herself but I don't think she is as recognized for a mainstay in horror/thriller despite a host of films on her resume. Here, she suffers a car wreck, but what (or who?) caused it? Awakening in a locked room, she's greeted by misfit Goodman who seems to unapologetically have imprisoned her "for her own good." She pretty much spends most of the film trying to escape. Goodman won't make it easy.
A third character emerges in John Gallagher, Jr. He is a source of constant aggravation to Goodman who clearly and unsettlingly seems interested in having Winstead all to himself. Goodman brings this Pruitt Taylor Vince creepiness that just makes your skin crawl. He could be Malcolm Rivers' brother (Identity reference, sorry). Goodman has put a lot of effort and free time to jazzing up and furnishing the bunker to make it all comfy and homey. So Goodman has put together a solid safehouse to hold up...if only he weren't a psycho!
The trusty air conditioner duct Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea utilized for many an escape and travel to different areas where needed makes a reappearance and is a handy helper to Winstead. Things get really ugly when a gun and acid are used as weapons and Winstead makes special use out of a shower curtain and duct tape for her own makeshift hasmat suit...yeah, she is a clothing designer (another handy quality afforded Winstead's character).
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