Those who love a good creature movie have very particular expectations. Having watched prehistoric reptiles wrestle like heavyweight champions and occasionally, even take on their fictional Japanese cousins who breathe fire, let’s just say, our sensibilities have been trained to expect the unexpected and some more. It’s like being wowed beyond imagination and blown to bits is the very least one would hope to take away from this experience. But in today’s episode of Lost and Found, we’re introducing you to a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat film that redefined the monster genre for modern audiences. Yes, we’re talking about Cloverfield. Nearly two decades on, this film still packs a punch, and is worth discovering or even rediscovering.

Cloverfield follows a group of friends trying to survive as a mysterious, monstrous creature tears through New York City. But what makes it work so well is that we’re not just watching a monster wreak havoc from a safe distance. We’re right there, fleeing alongside the characters, seeing the destruction from their perspective. It’s personal, it’s terrifying, and it’s relentless. And that’s precisely why Cloverfield still feels fresh and compelling even today—it makes you feel like you’re right there in the thick of it. This could be credited to the fact that it uses the first-person, found-footage style which brings a rawness and immediacy that really sets it apart. The shaky camera movements, the abrupt cuts, and the claustrophobic shots immerse you in the terror without relying on typical monster movie cliches. It’s disorienting, yes, but it’s this tension and realism that draws you in and keeps you hooked.

Let’s wind back to 2008. When Cloverfield first burst onto the scene, it was unlike anything we’d seen in the monster genre. This wasn’t your traditional creature feature with army tanks rolling in and hero shots of the monster wreaking havoc on skyscrapers. No, this film threw us right into the chaos and had us running alongside the characters, terrified and clueless about what lurked in the shadows.

The movie maverick JJ Abrams produced Cloverfield and brought his signature mystery-box approach to the project. You see, Abrams loves playing with suspense and creating questions that demand answers. With Cloverfield, he took a relatively simple premise—a monster attacking New York—and shrouded it in mystery. You don’t know where the creature came from, what it’s capable of, or if the characters will make it out alive. It’s tantalisingly vague and that’s just enough to keep you uncertain and tense throughout the film’s runtime.

Abrams also used an innovative marketing campaign that’s still discussed to this day. Rather than unveiling trailers that spoon-feed the plot, he dropped cryptic teasers and subtle hints, sparking a buzz and keeping audiences guessing. This approach made Cloverfield feel more than just a movie. Fans were piecing together clues and speculating on forums long before the movie hit cinemas.

The film brilliantly builds suspense by revealing the monster in fragments—a claw here, a glimpse of its head there. You never get a full look at the creature until later, which keeps the fear factor high. And because of the found-footage style, the viewer is left feeling just as uncertain and vulnerable as the characters. It’s gripping, and it’s tense, and it never lets up until the very last frame.

The monster genre has always been crowded with big-budget franchises, and in that sea of CGI, Cloverfield brings something rare and raw. It doesn’t rely on familiar story arcs or over-the-top action sequences. Instead, it’s a visceral, ground-level experience that really stands out for its realism and suspense.

The film’s influence on the genre is undeniable, inspiring a new wave of found-footage horrors and blending genres in a way few others have managed. It’s one of those films that sticks with you—partly for the thrill of it, but also because of its innovation and storytelling finesse.

So if you’re looking for a monster movie that’s intense, original, and genuinely thrilling, give Cloverfield a watch. You’ll see a whole new side of the monster genre, and you might just find yourself on the edge of your seat. It’s available to stream on Amazon Prime Video so don’t miss out on this modern classic!

Well that's the Lost and Found episode for today, until the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.

Written by Kunal Guha