Super 8

Super 8 is a 2011 American science fiction action thriller film written and directed by J. J. Abrams and co-produced by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, and Kyle Chandler and tells the story of a group of young teenagers in 1979 who are filming their own Super 8 movie when a train derails, releasing a dangerous presence into their town. The film was shot in Weirton, West Virginia, and surrounding areas, portraying the fictional town of Lillian, Ohio. Super 8 was released on June 10, 2011, in conventional and IMAX theaters in the United States. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Abrams' direction, its nostalgic elements, visual effects, musical score and for the performances of the cast, in particular, both Fanning and newcomer Courtney's acting was cited, while also being compared to such thematically similar films as E.T., Stand by Me, and The Goonies, featuring a darker interpretation of those iconic premises. Super 8 was also a commercial success, grossing over $260 million against a $50 million budget. The film received several awards and nominations, primarily in technical and special effects categories, Giacchino's musical score, as well as for Courtney and Fanning's performances. Plot In 1979, fourteen-year-old Joe Lamb mourns his mother Elizabeth, who died recently in a workplace accident. He clings to his mom's memory in the form of a locket. Joe's father, Deputy Sheriff Jack Lamb, blames Louis Dainard for his wife's death. Dainard showed up drunk to work that day so Elizabeth had to cover his shift.