Super 8, the latest movie from J.J Abrams, shows the fun of being a kid shooting a real movie on Super 8 film. Of course, as in all movies, there has to be a twist. Super 8 has a huge twist with a monster we don't see until later --like the movie Cloverfield. I like that element of the monster being hidden for some time.
The storyline is simple: a group of middle school kids are making a zombie film during their summer vacation.
Super 8 was filmed in Weirton, West Virginia. The movie is set in 1979.
One night, the kids sneak out to film scenes at a train station. During the filming, a truck goes head-to-head with the train on the tracks. In the huge accident something escapes. We’re not sure what it is, but it is big.
Super 8 has a few back stories: young Joe Lamb, played by Joel Courtney, has lost his mother in a tragic work accident at a steel mill. His dad, Deputy Jackson Lamb, is played by Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights). Father and son are on shaky terms with each other.
Joe is a makeup artist and model builder, working on a short film with his friend, Charles, played by Riley Griffiths. Another of the crew is Alice, played by Elle Fanning. She is acting in the short and is Joe’s secret crush.
The movie has many layers going on: loss of a loved one, crushes, shaky relationships, suspense and lots of destruction. The special effects are amazing, especially when the train crashes and later when the town is under attack.
Super 8 has a believable plot but there are gaps. The writing is good as a lot of dialogue is snappy and original.
There will be comparisons to such movies as Goonies and ET. The style is like Steven Spielberg’s, who was a producer on the film. Super 8 has a 70s feel of a suspense/monster movie and it’s better seen on the big screen.
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