In J.J. Abrams’ latest science-fiction blockbuster hit, a group of adolescent film makers witness a horrific train derailment and soon after, strange things begins to happen in their quiet town and it is up to them to figure out why.

The film opens in the fictional town of Lillian, Ohio in 1979, following the funeral of 13-year-old Joe Lamb’s (Joel Courtney) mother, who tragically died in a steel mill accident. Four months following the accident and with summer upon them, Joe, along with his friends Charles (Riley Griffiths), Carey (Ryan Lee), Martin (Gabriel Basso), and Preston (Zach Mills), spend their time focusing on Charles’ entrance into a film festival, for which the group is shooting a zombie film. Along with their classmate Alice (Elle Fanning), the group plans a night shoot at a local train station, despite Joe’s father (Kyle Chandler) and Alice’s father (Ron Eldard) disapproving of their friendship.

The night of the train station shoot, the group witnesses a massive train accident, and flees the scene before the U.S. Air Force squad can see them. Though the accident interrupted their shoot, much of what went down was captured on the group’s Super 8-film camera. As more and more clues emerge and strange things begin to take place – dogs turning up missing in neighboring towns, the corrupt presence of the Air Force, the information being withheld by the local biology teacher – the kids soon learn that a covered-up alien life form is responsible for the havoc wrecked across Lillian. It is then up to Joe and his friends to find out the truth behind the mystery and restore order in their hometown.

The film showcases brilliant performances from all of its young actors, in what is some of the most accurate portrayals of American youth in film in a long time. The chemistry between the friends, and between love interests Joe and Alice, felt real and genuine, making the audience connect more with these characters and the film overall.

The visual effects in the film are nothing short of brilliance. The catastrophic train accident felt as though it was never-ending, as explosions and rubble commanded the screen. Even when there were no explosions occurring, the scenes were vibrant and captivating. The setting is very period, as it takes place in 1979, where we see the kids dressing in 70s fashion and the town’s buildings the epitome of vintage craftsmanship.  

Director J.J. Abrams, responsible for hits such as Cloverfield, Star Trek, and television’s Lost, adds another sure-to-be classic to his catalog of cultural phenomena’s. While the films nature is familiar to many – a cross between “E.T” and “The Goonies” – it is nevertheless a fresh, mysterious, and often touching look at both American youth and the ever-intriguing wonder of extraterrestrials.

Super 8 was the number one film following its June 10^th release. For more information on the film, visit the film’s official website http://www.super8-movie.com/#/video.