The Cloverfield Paradox

The third film in the Cloverfield series is arguably the weakest of the three, but this sci-fi thriller is still entertaining, if derivative, and it’s elevated by an impressive cast.

Premise:  In the near future, with the world on the brink of war over dwindling energy resources, the international crew of the “Cloverfield” space station are conducting particle accelerator experiments in the hope of solving the Earth's energy crisis.  But a conspiracy theorist is convinced that the experiment will break down the barriers separating time, space and dimensions…

Review:

First things first, The Cloverfield Paradox is not a direct sequel to either 2008’s Cloverfield or 2016’s 10 Cloverfield Lane, but it does potentially offer an explanation for how all three films might possibly exist in the same shared universe.  Maybe.  That said, I think it’s fair to say that the Cloverfield “franchise” is more like an anthology series of individual stories linked by themes and tones (much like, say, The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits), than it is a cohesive multi-part story.  It’s probably very telling that the scripts for 10 Cloverfield Lane and The Cloverfield Paradox were both originally standalone stories, that were later rewritten to tie into the Cloverfield universe.

Without wishing to spoil the surprises from the first two films, Cloverfield was a standalone “giant monster” movie (albeit one that left a lot of questions open to interpretation by the end of the film), and 10 Cloverfield Lane was a claustrophobic thriller that appeared to have no direct connection to the first film (albeit it was set against the backdrop of end-of-the-world paranoia).  The Cloverfield Paradox is something else entirely different again – a space-set thriller with no monsters per se (this is not, in any real sense, similar to 2017’s Life when all is said and done), but with some creepy sci-fi concepts nonetheless.

“…the surprise launch was arguably a game-changer…”

Perhaps what The Cloverfield Paradox will be most remembered for is the surprise launch – although the film had been rumoured for some time, it was not officially confirmed until a surprise trailer aired during the Superbowl, confirming that the film would premier on Netflix later that night.  The Cloverfield series has always embraced innovative marketing (Cloverfield was untitled during much of its pre-publicity, and was a pioneer of viral marketing, while 10 Cloverfield Lane was not formally announced until less than two months before its release), but even so, the surprise launch of The Cloverfield Paradox was arguably a game-changer.

But innovative marketing does not a good film make, and despite the creativity shown in relation to its launch, the film itself does feel quite derivative.  The film is the first in the series to be set in the future (albeit only the near future), and the action takes place almost entirely on the “Cloverfield” space station, where the international crew are conducting particle accelerator experiments deemed too dangerous to be carried out on Earth, in the hope of finding a way to provide free, limitless energy and avoid the inevitable worldwide war over the last of the energy resources.  Truth be told, a lot of these concepts feel quite familiar, and these days “particle accelerators” are the excuse for any sci-fi mumbo-jumbo, just as gamma-rays and the like were the explanation for most superhero powers in the 60s.  Equally, as soon as the audience sees a conspiracy theorist on TV warning that the reckless experiments will break down the barriers separating time, space and parallel dimensions, you’d have to be very naïve not to guess where the film is going…

“…a big part of what makes the film so watchable despite its flaws is its great cast…”

That’s not to say that the film isn’t still enjoyable – it does have some inventive moments along the way, as well as an effective sense of tension throughout.  The fact that the international crew are aware that their home nations on Earth are on the brink of war does bring an additional tension that is perhaps missing from these kind of films normally, as the crew begin to suspect that one or more of them may be sabotaging the experiments on the orders of their respective governments.  But for all its good points, there’s just no escaping two key facts: firstly, a lot of these plot concepts have been played out before, and secondly, this film has a lot of plot developments and loose ends that don’t make sense or are never properly explained (beyond the blanket “the laws of physics no longer apply” excuse).

A big part of what makes the film so watchable despite its flaws is its great cast.  British actors Gugu Mbatha-Raw and David Oyelowo do a lot with the material they’re given, and are able to add depth and shading to their characters in the little moments here and there.  Irish actor Chris O'Dowd pretty much steals every scene he’s in, bringing a sarcastic sense of humour but without simply becoming the comic relief.  Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki continues her run of great performances in a relatively minor role, and German actor Daniel Brühl is as reliable as ever (even if his role is one of the most underwritten).

“…the plot is too familiar, while at the same time also too confused…”

But ultimately, it is the writing (more than the direction or the acting) that lets the film down, as the plot is too familiar, while at the same time also too confused (there are at least two plot developments which I still don’t understand…).  There is definitely fun to be had if you just sit back and enjoy the ride on this tense, sci-fi thriller, but it really won’t tax your mind, and the less you question what’s happening, the more you’ll enjoy the film.