Cloverfield (2008)
- The incredible score for Cloverfield was composed in just a few weeks after the original composer dropped out.
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Matt Reeves's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
- Matt Reeves originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
Cloverfield is a 2008 American found-footage monster film directed by Matt Reeves and produced by J.J. Abrams. The film is presented entirely as footage recovered from a personal video camera found in the rubble of what was formerly Central Park.
The footage documents a farewell party in lower Manhattan that is interrupted when a massive creature attacks the city, and five partygoers attempt to rescue a friend trapped in a damaged building while the military battles the creature through the streets. Cloverfield's viral marketing campaign, which began with an untitled teaser trailer attached to Transformers showings, was revolutionary โ using mysterious websites, hidden codes, and fragmentary information to build speculation and excitement months before the film's title was even revealed. The found-footage format, combined with Reeves's disciplined adherence to the camera's limited perspective, created an immersive experience that made audiences feel they were experiencing a monster attack firsthand.
The creature was deliberately withheld from full view for most of the film, glimpsed only in fragments that made it more terrifying. Cloverfield earned $172 million worldwide on a $25 million budget.
