Rated PG-13 for thematic material including frightening sequences of threat with some violence, and brief language.
Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead John Goodman and John Gallagher Jr.
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg
Be careful who you choose to share a bomb shelter with!
A woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) discovers the horrifying truth about the outside world while living in an underground shelter with two men (John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr.).
JONATHAN’S WORD: I can honestly say I’ve never seen a film with this specific premise. It was a thrilling tale of survival where you can’t decide whether the greater danger is outside… or right next to you! It’s War of the Worlds meets Misery.
TODD’S WORD: I love a movie that makes me think about it days after walking out of the theater…yeah I’m still thinking about 10 Cloverfield Lane.
JONATHAN’S WORD: Me too!
TODD’S WORD: The universe of 10 Cloverfield Lane is full of unanswered questions: How much time passes? Where did the aliens come from? Is Howard a pedophile? Did he specifically target Michelle? Did Emmett love her? How much did Howard actually know? The list goes on and on.
JONATHAN’S WORD: I have theories… but that’s all they are. Let’s email JJ Abrams!
TODD’S WORD: I’ll give you a dollar if he emails you back.
JONATHAN’S WORD: Deal!
TODD’S WORD: I will say…without saying it, that I loved the ending.
JONATHAN’S WORD: I love that the film gives you victories. I don’t need fairy tales, but it’s nice to see the good guys have some success.
TODD’S WORD: I loved the cast. John Goodman is creepy, terrifying and at times, uncomfortable to watch. John Gallagher Jr. does an amazing job of quietly making a huge impact and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is fantastic.
JONATHAN’S WORD: You can’t have any weak links with such a small cast. They all delivered… big time.
TODD’S WORD: The whole story was enthralling. I don’t yet have all the answers, but I am still thinking about the questions…and because of that it is “Theater Worthy.”
JONATHAN’S WORD: I agree. The film had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It was a compelling story with likable characters. I also give it a “Theatre Worthy”, which might be just a little bit underrated because I actually just pre-ordered the film.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no sex or nudity but there are some brief innuendos. There is one F-word and a few other profanities.
A woman gets into a car crash in the beginning of the film, and it is very sudden and loud and could startle viewers. There are several other scenes that include a shooting, acid and other fighting.
The whole film has a very tense, suspenseful and unsettling vibe.
CONVERSATION STARTER:
- At the beginning of the film Howard says he rescued Michelle and expects some gratitude. Have you ever done something nice for someone and not heard a “thank you”? How did you feel?
- If we knew we would never hear “thank you” would we still help others? Why or why not?
- How does this verse help us when we don’t hear “thank you”?
- How can you work for the Lord rather than for people?
Read Colossians 3:23
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.