Dir: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Riley Griffiths
Synopsis: While filming a zombie flick for their local film competition, a group of kids accidentally film a U.S Air Force train derail. Afterwards, strange things start happening - dogs, people and machinery disappear - and the youths take it upon themselves to find out what's happening to their little town.
Verdict: It is easy to see that this film has been influenced so much by the work of Steven Spielberg, from the classic flare off the sky and lights, down to the cinematography and even the story and characters. All of which isn't difficult to explain when you consider Abrams has been planning this film since he was a kid watching Close Encounters and ET (which shows).
Joel Courtney plays Joe Lamb, the protagonist son of Kyle Chandler's Jackson - the deputy of Lillian - who does the sound and make up on his best friend Charles' directoral. debut. Throw into the mix the love interest Alice, played by Elle Fanning, and the scene is set.
Considering the youth of the cast, Abrams has managed to pool together a group that could very well be considered this centuries' Goonies, albeit a little more serious and grown up. They all play their roles well, from the always-in-charge Charles, the pyromaniac Cary (Ryan Lee), worrisome Preston (Zach Mills) and the timid at first but then comes out of his shell Joe.
Their performance is backed up by the adult cast, from Chandler's portrayal of Jackson, a dad slightly out of his depth, to Glynn Turman's Dr Woodward.
One of the ways Abrams excels in his films is with special effects, and Super 8 is no different. From the creature effects to the stunning derailment scene, with flying cars in between, the SFX team really out did themselves, and to not jump onto the 3D bandwagon is pleasant to see. Combine this with some brilliant jumpy scenes, and a play on the old Alien addage that what you don't see is scarier than what you do, and you get a thoroughly engrossing experience.
My only faults with the film would be some of the cheeseyness towards the end, playing too much on the sentimental value that Abrams creates throughout the film to create something that made me audibly groan at one or two spots. Otherwise, a very good film which sits nicely on the line of thriller and nostalgia.
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