Super 8

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For those who are unaware, Super 8 is an 8mm film format, which was a popular format for making home movies in the days before VHS.  These days, the format is really only used by aficionados and film students (I myself made a Super 8 film in one of my film classes).

For J.J. Abrams‘ third film as a director (and first film not based on an existing franchise), Super 8, as a title, is a bit of a MacGuffin, since a group of kids are making a Super 8 zombie film, when they get tied into a train crash, escape of an alien creature, and subsequent military cover-up.  That said, it is at least neat that we get to see the finished film over the closing credits.

The film is a film that is supposed to hearken back to producer Steven Spielberg‘s films of the 1980s.  I think it succeeds for the most part, but I kind of believe that the alien at the centre of the film seems more Cloverfield than E.T. (even though it has aspects of both).

Overall, it was a decent nostalgia film, even though it’s not perfect.

8/10

Sean Patrick Kelly

Sean Patrick Kelly is a Toronto-based freelance film critic and blogger with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies from York University. Since founding his site in 2004, Sean has shared his passion for cinema through insightful reviews and commentary. His work has also been featured in prominent outlets, including Toronto Film Scene, HuffPost Canada, Screen Anarchy, ScreenRant, and Rue Morgue Magazine.