Super 8 is a wonderful coming of age story embedded in a sci fi action thriller. A group of small town kids in the 1970s are making their own horror movie when a spectacular train crash unleashes a space alien threat government disinformation. The real achievement in this film is the story of the kids – their speech, actions, fears and hopes are written to be utterly authentic. I can’t think of a movie that does a better job of depicting American 11 to 13-year-olds.
The special effects are top-rate, especially the train wreck and the alien creature. But the adult characters who propel the sci fi story are shallow and two-dimensional.
Nevertheless, director J.J. Abrams (Lost, Cloverfield) has created a very special coming of age film. I liked it.