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Almost a 10

You don't want to be reading reviews for "10 Cloverfield Lane." You shouldn't be reading reviews for "10 Cloverfield Lane." Stop what you're doing, go see the movie and come back and let's talk.

Should you have seen the movie already, I'm going to continue on but this is going to be a brief review because we aren't going to get into the intricacies of the plot. That would spoil the fun of this movie. Until recently, we didn't even know this movie existed. Producer J.J. Abrams kept us distracted with a little film called "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens", and then sprung the sort-of, not really sequel to the 2008 monster flick, "Cloverfield", on us.

In terms of the plot, on its most basic, IMDb.com-approved level, the movie begins with Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) leaving her life behind, which includes a fiancé. While driving one night, she is hit by a truck and rolls off the road. She wakes up in a bunker, which is run by Howard (John Goodman). Also, in the bunker is Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.). Michelle doesn't know why she's here but Howard keeps telling her it's for her own good.

That's it. If you want to know the nuts-and-bolts of what's going on in that effective trailer you saw some months back, you have to go see the movie - and you totally should. I absolutely loved about 90-percent of  "10 Cloverfield Lane", and liked the rest enough.

First time feature director, Dan Trachtenberg, has crafted a slick, atmospheric and mysterious chamber piece that grips you early on and keeps you guessing what might happened next. For anyone who goes to the movies every week, it takes a lot to completely shake you and "10 Cloverfield Lane" did just that. We are stuck in the bunker with the characters and feel the walls closing in on us. It's a involving movie experience.

The small ensemble all delivers great performances. Winstead has always been great at playing understated and she is smart and resourceful as Michelle. Goodman has been one of the best character actors working in the business but he does some of his best work as Howard. With just a single glance, Goodman will paralyze you from head-to-toe. It's truly haunting work.

I haven't seen the first "Cloverfield" since it was released in theaters but it didn't work for me the way it did for most. The shaky-cam gimmick proved more annoying and effective and the whole monster mash felt more plodding than exciting. Its distant cousin, once or twice removed, "10 Cloverfield Lane", however, is a riveting exercise in tension and mood.