CLOVERFIELD

Cloverfield is a 2008 monster/horror film produced by J. J. Abrams, directed by Matt Reeves, and written by Drew Goddard. Prior to the film's release, Paramount Pictures carried out a viral marketing campaign to promote the film. The campaign included viral tie-ins similar to the Lost Experience. The film follows five young New Yorkers who throw their friend a going-away party on the same night that a gigantic monster attacks the city. First publicized in advance screenings of Transformers, the project was released on January 17 in New Zealand and Australia, on January 18 in North America, and on February 1 in the Republic of Ireland and the UK.

The film is presented as a series of scenes (from the SD Card of a digital camera) obtained by the U.S. Department of Defense pertaining to Case Designate "Cloverfield", found in an area "formerly known as Central Park". The footage that comprises the rest of the film is shot under the context of a personal hand-held camera used by various characters throughout the film's events.

On April 27 at 6:41am, Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David) awakes after spending the night with longtime friend Beth (Odette Yustman) in her father's Columbus Circle apartment. They soon plan to visit Coney Island for the day.

On May 22, Rob's brother Jason (Mike Vogel) and his girlfriend Lily (Jessica Lucas) prepare a Manhattan apartment for Rob's farewell party, as he has accepted a job in his company's Japan office. Jason gives Rob's best friend "Hud" (T. J. Miller) the camera to record final goodbyes from family and friends at the party; Hud instead spends much of his time attempting to woo Marlena (Lizzy Caplan), an outsider who largely shows indifference and irritation at his advances.

Beth arrives with a date, which upsets Rob. To his dismay, he realizes Hud is taping over the video of his and Beth's trip to Coney Island; that footage shows up intermittently throughout the film as a result. Lily reveals Rob and Beth slept together, and Beth is mad at him for not talking to her since. Rob provokes Beth and her date into abruptly leaving the party. Rob is chastised by Hud and Jason over his actions, and they encourage him to try and start a relationship with her despite him going to Japan.

Beth arrives with a date, which upsets Rob. To his dismay, he realizes Hud is taping over the video of his and Beth's trip to Coney Island; that footage shows up intermittently throughout the film as a result. Lily reveals Rob and Beth slept together, and Beth is mad at him for not talking to her since. Rob provokes Beth and her date into abruptly leaving the party. Rob is chastised by Hud and Jason over his actions, and they encourage him to try and start a relationship with her despite him going to Japan.

As they are advising him on a course of action, the building begins to rock with earthquake-intensity, causing the power to flicker. As the building trembles, deafening animal-like roars can be heard emanating from outside. A large group of party goers head to the roof, where they witness a large conflagration in the distance near the seashore. Soon, they are forced inside as debris from the explosion shower on them, causing minor damage to the both their own and nearby structures forcing many of the attendees to evacuate to the streets below. An anxious crowd gathers to discern the preceding events, when suddenly the head of the Statue of Liberty, damaged and charred, crashes into the street beside them. Down the street, the Woolworth building begins to collapse, causing a large column of smoke and debris (presumably toxic due to fire retardants and construction materials) to travel through the streets. Through the clouds of ash, Hud (who has kept the camera rolling the entire time) catches a glimpse of what seems to be a gigantic creature. Marlena, obviously shaken by the events, mentions that she believed she saw the creature consuming those caught in its path.

Rob, Jason, Hud, Marlena, and Lily, along with hundreds of other local residents begin to move on foot towards the Brooklyn Bridge, which has become a central hub for foot traffic attempting to flee the city. Emergency response personnel have reached the scene, and for the most part the unorganized exodus from the city is calm and coordinated, with the first units of New York National Guardsmen beginning to mobilize and arrive on the scene.