Super 8 is director JJ Abrams’ latest mystery of a film. You can either feel two ways about the mans work. You can be fascinated with discovering the mystery behind his work, or you can be put off by not knowing what exactly he has to offer. Super 8 is a love letter to the 80′s Spielberg era and Spielberg should be happy about that. Super 8 isn’t just a mystery waiting to be uncovered, it’s also a emotional and realistic view on friendship, and that’s the film’s strongest point.

The basic plot involves a group of early teens as they set out to make a zombie movie using a Super 8mm film. The group decides to shoot a scene at the small town’s train station where a train is derailed and unleashes something sinister. Joe Lamb, played magnificently by newcomer Joel Courtney, is the make-up artist in this zombie flick and the main protagonist in the film. This kid can act. He pulls the right strings that the role calls for and brings the emotional value that the film and role require. His father is played by Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler. he is the deputy of this small town and doesn’t have the closest relationship with his son. JJ Abrams gets very little out of this father/son relationship as the script mainly focuses on Joe’s friendships.

The director of this faux film is Charles, played by Riley Griffiths. He’s bossy and requires much of his crew but he is very subtle with his needs so he doesn’t come off as a jerk. He is also Joe’s best friend, and both actors work so well together that you believe the friendship. There are more kids, including Elle Fanning as Alice, an actress in the faux film that has the closest relationship to Joe emotionally. Kids can make or break a film very easily but in this case they are the strongest point. They are friendly, caring and genuine, a thing we don’t usually see nowadays. This is the best group of friends in a film since The Sandlot.

I wont spoil much but I’m sure you know this is a “monster movie” by now. The set up to it in the film is enthralling and left me not only eagerly waiting to see the creature but also knowing its backstory. Ultimately the reveal falls a bit short in that the explanation for it being on Earth is not very good. But it still does make for a decent monster movie.

JJ Abrams last film was Star Trek (2009) and if you’re worrying about him going overboard with the lens flares then calm your nerves because he tones it down in Super 8. JJ does a great job directing the kids, and being behind the camera. The train derailment scene is outstanding as it follows the kids running for their lives as explosions are happening left and right. Very reminiscent to the opening scenes of Lost as Jack witness the destruction upon landing on the island. I also applaud JJ for opening Super 8 with two back to back heartbreaking scenes, I chocked up a little.

Super 8 sets up an enticing mystery that doesn’t pay off once the reveal happens. Despite that shortcoming, Super 8 is the great popcorn flicks we expect every summer, but not as shallow as most. Super 8 has a heart at its core, unlike Cloverfield. Super 8 is a decent monster movie, but it is a wonderful look at friendship.