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The Cloverfield Paradox

The Cloverfield Paradox

Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Elizabeth Debicki, David Oyelowo, Daniel Bruhl, Chris O’Dowd (Rated M – 102 min).

Literally out of the blue after the trailer was unleashed during the all-important advertising regime of America’s 2018 Superbowl Sunday, a next instalment into the Cloverfield universe became available immediately on Netflix.

Gestating over an extended period at Paramount Pictures under original title God Particle, coming two years after surprise hit and as far as I am concerned good movie 10 Cloverfield Lane, this one relies heavily on fan knowledge for the most part alongside some outrageous nods to Alien and Event Horizon among others. Beginning on Earth with a couple in a car during gridlock was not relevant at the time but may or may not come into play later. Muddled plot ethics continue in ballistic moments on board a space station when the crew are locked out of communications and power surges disrupt station cohesion into system overload.

Tension runs high, weird things follow including towering Australian actress Elizabeth DeBicki found screaming wrapped in electrical wires inside a wall and a loose severed arm signalling directions. Wonderful GuGu Mbatha-Raw redeems her science-fiction credentials after Jupiter Ascending (2015) entirely standing out as the proxy lead of a diverse ensemble. Aforementioned DeBicki always interesting.

It’s been a decade since JJ. Abrams took the found-footage creature feature to the top of the box office with a secretive but more standard script and little fanfare relying on solid word of mouth. Paradox is a stretch being linked to either Cloverfield film but keen viewers will see the strains to previous stories.

This has been hated by most, I liked it and left me wanting more oddball tales in this upswinging mind-bending universe. Bring it on.

Shane A. Bassett

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