Episode 68: Nick Hayden vs. ‘Cloverfield’

The Monster Island Film Vault

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! “Ameri-kaiju” jumps ahead 50 years, but as you’ll hear, the (in)famous Cloverfield has a lot in common with the classic 1950s films we’ve been covering. Nate’s longtime friend Nick Hayden drops by to discuss this movie because he’s loved it ever since he first experienced it in a theater—and it is an experience. Too much of one for some people, in fact! While it’s popular to hate on Cloverfield in the kaiju fandom, it popularized the “found footage” genre and launched J.J. Abrams’ studio, Bad Robot Productions. To the shock of some of Nate’s friends, he says this is the closest the United States has come to producing a Godzilla (1954). How and why? The Toku Topic helps explain that: the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Before this, Nate meets with Dr. Nick Tatopoulos on the Heat Seeker to discuss recent events. Nate learns Cameron Winter is covering his tracks, so Nate tells Nick he’s thinking of taking Mr. Gold’s promotion so he can spy on Winter. Afterward, Nate goes to Mr. Gold’s office to discuss the offer—only to be interrogated about Jessica’s shenanigans with the Ymir’s escape on Harryhausen’s birthday.

Check out Nick’s website (http://worksofnick.com/) and his podcast, Derailed Trains of Thought (http://derailedtrainsofthought.com/).

The prologue and epilogue, “Claws and Cash,” was written by Nathan Marchand.

Guest stars:

• R. Villers as Nick Tatopoulos
• Michael Hamilton as Mr. Gold
• Lemonjolly as Ms. Kawaii

Additional music:

• “The Edge Calls Me” by MkVaff
• “Pacific Rim” by Niall Stenson
• “Chant My Name!” by Masaaki Endo
• “This Cowboy’s Hat” (instrumental) by Chris LeDoux
• “When Your Mom Mistakes Captain Falcon for Captain America Again” by Vijay van der Weijden

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org, including those by InspectorJ.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, and Ted Williams! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop)

This episode is approved by Cameron Winter and the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

• Prologue: 0:00-4:02
• Intro: 4:02-10:22
• Entertaining Info Dump: 10:22-18:14
• Toku Talk: 18:14-1:13:46
• Promo: 1:13:46-1:14:36
• Toku Topic: 1:14:36-1:56:18
• Housekeeping & Outro: 1:56:18-2:10:47
• Epilogue: 2:10:47-end

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Bibliography/Further Reading:

• “Aftermath of the September 11 attacks.” Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftermath_of_the_September_11_attacks)
• Cloverfield blu-ray special features:
  • Alternate Endings with Matt Reeves’ Commentary
  • “Cloverfield Visual Effects”
  • Commentary by Director Matt Reeves
  • Deleted Scenes with Matt Reeves’ Commentary
  • “Document 1.18.08: The Making of Cloverfield”
  • “I Saw It! It’s Alive! It’s Huge!”
• “Cloverfield.” IMDb. (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt)
• “Cloverfield.” Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloverfield)
• Hantke, Steffen. “The Return of the Giant Creature: Cloverfield and Political Opposition to the War on Terror.” Extrapolation, Vol. 51, No. 2, The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, 2010.
• Pew Research Center. “Two Decades Later, the Enduring Legacy of 9/11.” (https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/09/02/two-decades-later-the-enduring-legacy-of-9-11/)
• “September 11 attacks.” Britannica. (https://www.britannica.com/event/September-11-attacks)
• Stone, James. “Enjoying 9/11: The Pleasures of Cloverfield.” Radical History Review. No. 111, Fall 2011.