In a Hollywood production line of sequels and remakes, it would be nice to experience again the Summer Blockbuster of days gone by, the type of movie event which had originality but also crucially a heart and soul.
Step forward J J Abrams with Super 8, a throwback to the early work of Steven Spielberg, who handily holds the producer credit for the film. In fact Super 8 bares many of the themes of the classic Spielberg movie-the reminiscent warm hue of childhood, the joys and growing pains of friendship, the absent father, who in this case is present but still scarce and the misunderstood Extra Terrestrial. One might argue why we need a film where Abrams does his best Spielberg impression? But any movie that instills the nostalgic yearn of childhoods spent riding bikes and long summers with your friends is a welcome addition to break the monotony of Superheroes and Smurfs.
Super 8, set in 1979, tells the story of Joe Lamb, a young boy whose mother has tragically died in a factory accident and whose father, the town sheriff, is unable to relate to his son. Fast forward four months and Joe and his friends are making a zombie movie in their summer holidays for a film competition. One night they sneak out to a remote train station/platform to film scenes with the new addition to the cast Alice, an object of teenage lust for the boys (particularly Joe) and a catalyst for division in their friendship. While filming they witness a train derail in suspicious circumstances and flee the scene when the U.S Air Force arrive and surround the area. The gang agree not to tell anyone what they have seen; however things start to take a turn for the strange in their small town. People begin to disappear, all the towns pet dogs flee to neighbouring areas, electrical appliances appear to have been looted and finally the shady U.S Air Force take over the panicked town.
Abrams film provides all the thrills and spills you would expect from a summer monster movie, his flair for directing action set pieces and building suspense, clearly evident in the train crash sequence and the slow reveal of what is now lurking loose among the town, moving through the trees and hurtling up water towers. Yet the films real ace is the kids, the interaction between the group of friends is utterly believable, funny and bittersweet, they are the spirit of the movie (stick around for the post film credits to see the results of their antics). Top marks should go to the casting director for finding such a natural, genuinely likeable bunch of child actors, the standout being Elle Fanning (sister of the precocious Dakota) who shows that her charming screen turn in previous film Somewhere was no fluke and displays an affable screen presence that could outshine her sister.
Super 8 does have a few flaws, at times it veers into schmaltzy territory (something that Spielberg himself is no stranger to) and the third act doesn't quite reach the giddy heights of the original premise but there is enough good old fashioned entertainment and bye gone whimsy to please many a film lover. To quote a former Apprentice candidate everything Abrams touches 'turns to sold'.
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