Movie Review: SUPER 8 Starring Elle Faning

I like so many others have been looking forward to this movie all year now, not only did it look awesome but the mystery surrounding it was one of the biggest draws.  As we know the movie was directed by Steven Spielberg and written by JJ.Abrams, you know the guy who wrote hit TV show Lost and also had a hand in Cloverfield, knowing this was a J.J.Abrams movie is really enough to get you to the cinema and watch it.

Starring: Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler and Elle Fanning

The Plot

Set in the summer of 1979 the movie follows a group of teenagers making their own zombie movie that theybelieve is going to be a real hit, the movie takes it's name from this story as the kids are making their movie using a Super 8 camera.  They are out late at night filming their final scene at the local train station when they are witness to a massive train crash which turns out to be no accident.  Following the train crash strange events begin to happen around the town and government officials turn up playing shifty with the locals and the police department.

The Verdict

Movies these days are full of hype and you generally tend to find that when you get round to seeing them that you have seen all of the best bits during the trailer that was on TV.  Super 8 is no different here except for one thing, all along the trailers released by Spielberg and Abrams have give nothing away other than a train crash, something trying to get out the train and some strange happenings in the town.

This was a genius move from the film makers, although due to the kind of movies you get from Spielberg and Abrams you could probably guess that there was something on that train that you don't want running around in the wild.

The movie is really not quite what I was expecting, when I say that what I mean is when I saw the trailer I was expecting something that would require a certain degree of hiding behind your pillow, I was very wrong on this, very very wrong in fact.  If it is something super scary that you want to see then Super 8 won't fulfil your needs but, that does not mean it's not a good movie.  There were points during the build up that you are knid of on edge thinking what is going to happen here?  Then it happens and turns out not to be to frightening at all.  Don't let that put you off though, the mystery that has been surrounding the movie for months now continues into the film and it's not until the last 30 minutes or so that you get to see what was on the train, all adding to the reason to watch this movie.

I have read a lot about it, one review in particular was from Glen at 1Man365Movies, who compared the movie to Stand By Me.  I got that straight away watching this, there is a scene where the kids all sit together on the edge of town and it takes you right back to River Phoenix and Cory Feldmen on the front cover of the afore mentioned movie.

To say anymore than that would give this movie away, and I like the director and writer don't want to do that, this is a must see movie which I really enjoyed and that completely threw me off what I was expecting.

Would I watch it again?

I will watch this movie again, it's one of those that second time around you will surely pick something up that you missed first time.

Star Rating: ****