John Goodman plays this role like the encore of his career. Never saw the actor portray such a creepy, disturbing character. 10 Cloverfield Lane is an impressive entry in the franchise. Loosely connected to the events of the original film, Cloverfield. This movie centers around a young woman being held captive in a doomsday bunker by a man who insists the air above ground is poisoned.

It’s directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the man behind Hulu’s Prey, a reboot of the Predator franchise. Starring John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and John Gallagher Jr. These stories with a small cast tend to have more of an emotional impact. As a fan of short stories, an inherent bias exists. Having viewers focus on three people stuck in a confined space also adds to the paranoia and claustrophobia of the movie.

Michelle (Winstead) operates as the lens of the viewer into the insane situation, asking common sense questions any sane person would. Emmett (Gallagher) is a gentle soul and underdog. While Howard (Goodman) makes everyone uncomfortable with his foreboding presence, labored breathing, and deep well of knowledge about almost everything. Red herrings scattered throughout distract from far more menacing truths.

Think of it as one of those pondering thoughts of a worst-case scenario, then add more combustible ingredients. Therein lies what makes this film so damn good. When Michelle seemingly hits rock bottom, another dreadful barricade is placed in her way. Imagine playing a video game on a higher difficulty the second time around and new challenges appear. The momentum is engaging and does not disappoint. 10 Cloverfield Lane earns a solid 8 out of 10.

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