By: Peter J Mellini

Since the first teaser trailer in front of Iron Man 2 I’ve been extremely curious about Super 8. The teaser simply showed a pick up truck driving into a speeding train, derailing it and causing a massive explosion. In the distance we hear a loud banging, the camera pans over to an air force train car and something trying very hard to get out. The door is sent flying in the air and the title card appears, followed by Executive Producer Steven Spielberg, written and directed by J. J. Abrams. At that moment I had no idea what this oddly titled movie was but I was hooked!

I know there is a lot of J.J. Abram hate all of the net, people complaining about the complexity of LOST and how the director always shrouds his projects in mystery. This is a challenge within itself in the internet age where spoilers are as common as sport scores. Regardless Abram’s has been able to keep his work close to the vest and this is something is completely lacking in the film industry today.

There are so many websites showing footage, leaking plot points and not to mention the countless trailers the studios put out themselves put that make you feel like you’ve already seen the movie before buying a ticket. With an Abram’s picture, you go in having an idea what you’re getting into but you don’t know every detail and you’re in for a fun ride.

With that in mind, we’re going to keep this review short and to the point.

Set in a small town, the story follows a group of kids in the late 1970s that are making a monster movie. While filming at the train station they witness a massive train crash, which they unintentionally capture on camera. In the following days random items and people begin to go missing. Strange power surges and all the town’s dogs begin to run away to neighboring cities. The air force quickly steps in and attempts to recover the contents of the derailed train, clearly covering up something much bigger.

Super 8 is E.T. , The Goonies, and Close Encounters all rolled into one, a true cinematic love letter to the early works of Steven Spielberg. Using all themes Abrams was about to create a suspenseful monster movie which captured the feeling of the monster movies of the late 50’s and 60’s, something Speilberg himself admits to being a big inspiration. A true nostalgic film, Super 8 brought back the wonder and excitement of the films we all loved as kids.

Super 8 is out in theaters tomorrow, June 10th.