'Cloverfield:' Not what you think

I'll admit I was the first to scoff at the "Cloverfield" trailer. Months ago in the dark theater you might have heard my audible remark of "Good Lord" or "Oh, please."

But then again, I'll admit that, truly, the best thing about reviewing films is that you go to see really interesting and different films you would never ever see on your own.

"Cloverfield" is very interesting, very different, scary and full of state-of-the-art special effects.

The plot line is basically a secret, and even hinting at who or what is attacking Manhattan (poor old Manhattan again) could give away a surprise that really caught me off guard. And when you do catch on to what is happening, you can do nothing but marvel at the filmmaker's chutzpah to pull it off.

So without giving anything away, the film begins ala "The Blair Witch Project" in that what you're about to see is a government-owned "found" videotape from Cloverfield -- the area formerly known as Central Park.

The tape begins with a few minutes of some old tape documenting a romantic day between Rob (Michael Stahl-David) and Beth (Odette Yustman), our love interest characters, and then jumps ahead to a going away party for Rob. There we get to meet the main characters, with a bit of back story for each -- mainly to know who's who as we race through the rest of the evening.

And race is the key word. Hud (T.J. Miller), Rob's good friend, is documenting the party -- mainly by sticking the camera in everyone's face -- as a memento for Rob take with him. Hud is just about on everyone's last nerve when "something happens."

Was it an earthquake? A bomb? A terrorist attack? Who's biting what? We will soon find out.

"Cloverfield" is shot in the style of a home movie with all its jerky movements, quick cuts and jumps in time -- which, as it turns out, creates an alternate perspective on the action and enables the audience to experience the fear and terror alongside the characters.

As for visual effects, I'm not sure how they did it. When I think of the amount of work involved, and then to do it all successfully, it's just mind boggling.

"Cloverfield" is a visual treat that is truly scary. It's going to, as they say, kill at the box office.