It's the summer of 1979 in a small Ohio town. A group of local teenagers are working on a super 8 zombie movie to submit to a local film festival. While filming they witness a horrific train derailment, but escape unharmed. When strange happenings start to take place across town in the wake of the crash the local Deputy, who is also the father of one of the teens, works to determine what is behind them.
But the real key to what is going on is in the hands of the teenagers themselves, and their super 8 camera, which captured footage of a creature escaping from the wreckage of the train. Now they have to stop the creature before it destroys everything and everyone in town. At the same time, they must reckon with their own group dynamics including family tragedies, rivalries, and falling in love.
Super 8 is named after Super 8mm film, which was originally released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement on the existing 8mm film technology. Many a high school and college film effort were produced through the use of Super 8 film, including the early works of the likes of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell.
Unfortunately this is neither a Sam Raimi, nor a Bruce Campbell film. No B movie magic here; this is a full on big budget Hollywood, family friendly, sci-fi drama complete with Steven Spielberg as director. Some have compared Super 8 to a mix between E.T. and Cloverfield. Without spilling the beans, this is a fair assessment. Yes, it has a big nasty alien, but it also has drama, a romantic sub plot, and a happily ever after finale.
Disclaimers aside, Super 8 is actually a good movie for what it is. It is well written, it has good acting all around, good effects, and mostly likeable characters. Super 8 won't blow your mind, but it is a well put together and fully watch-able film. Watch the credits for a worthwhile surprise as well.
3 train crashes out of 5
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and some drug use
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