We do not think anyone can pass the secret marketing tactics of Cloverfield and 10 Cloverfield Lane. Anyone who has an idea behind the release of The Cloverfield Paradox is definitely smarter than anyone who wrote the movie. They deserve a raise. The movie came with a surprise. In the middle of the Super Bowl show in America, the trailer was released. What anyone unexpectedly predicts is that this trailer announces that the movie will air, not in theaters but on the Netflix channel, and not tomorrow or the day after tomorrow but that night. Boom!
Or maybe there is another reason why he was released on Netflix as soon as that? Could the movie be deliberately "thrown" into Netflix because its quality is almost equivalent to direct-to-video movies or at best one episode of Black Mirror? From what I see it looks so. Directed by Julis Onah, its production layout looks cheap, its set-pieces are generic, and its impressions seem a bit impressed. Or just because it's running on Netflix, the movie actually feels like a direct-to-video movie?
Whichever theory is, I believe this film will not leave a meaningful impression upon watching.
The reason is because we've seen everything presented by The Cloverfield Paradox in a much better movie. The script writer, Oren Uziel uses the concept to confuse various elements of some space scifi movies that we have seen so often. However, if you look at how they act, the characters must have never seen the films. Since when was the space adventure in a movie that did not end badly?
The film opens with an antariksawati, Ava (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) who must leave the earth, husband (Roger Davies), as well as his past tragedy in order to save mankind. Ava joins scientists from various countries in space stations equipped with advanced energy accelerators named "The Shepard". This accelerator is expected to eradicate the energy crisis on Earth, whose way it works is by firing a giant laser into the earth. Do not ask me, I'm not a physics professor.
His crew is stocked by multinational space characters: a serious captain (David Oyelowo) from America, a mysterious scientist (Daniel Bruhl) from Germany, a slenge'an technician (Aksel Hennie) from Russia, a devout believer (John Ortiz) from Brazil, the laughing (Chris O'Dowd), and not to forget the representatives of our continent (Zhang Ziyi). This unique cast is given a generic character. Their dialogue is largely an absurd technical jargon that sounds like people watching too many Flash Gordon movies. You're probably smarter about physics than they are.
After several attempts, this effort was a success. But of course there are side effects; this is the giant laser we are talking about. All of a sudden, the earth is no longer there. Did they accidentally destroy the earth? Or is their station far out? Strange events do not stop here. Elizabeth Debicki suddenly emerged from behind the wall, screaming hysterically because of the wires that pierced her body. A crew spewed hundreds of worms, while another crew experienced a breakup. This hand is finally found, but he can move on his own even can write.
The mystery behind this phenomenon is quite intriguing, until I am pretty much looking forward to what is the cause of it. When it was revealed, unfortunately I could not take off my suspension of disbelief. For all the mysteries that were lured early, the explanation was disappointing. The movie uses this gimmick just as, uhm, mere gimmick. It is a cheap excuse to simplify all the oddities that occur. Perhaps if Ellen Ripley suddenly appeared in this space station, the film would also use the reason.
There's a much better minimalist movie about the concept that The Cloverfield Paradox is trying to pick up. The title is Coherence. Not a space movie indeed, but the theme is similar. Although "paradox" is an absurd concept, the film contains more logic and plausibility. The idea is worked out so well that we can be curious about anticipating what will come. I think, that brings together films in the Cloverfield franchise, which in fact is nothing alike except for the existence of the monster, is a mysterious concept sale. The Cloverfield Paradox should be able to include more of it.
Of course, this movie will feature a monster (its presence in a moment that I did not expect). But the placement feels just for just connecting it with the Cloverfield universe. Ramashook. However, I am grateful for that part, because that is the best part of the film. If the film is standalone, it just becomes a bad movie. But due to sticking with the Cloverfield franchise, this movie will tarnish the brand.