Story: A bunch of seemingly self-involved 20-somethings try to survive when a monster attacks Manhattan.

Jason (MIKE VOGEL) and his friend Lily Ford (JESSICA LUCAS) throw a party for Jason's brother Rob (MICHAEL STAHL-DAVID) who is moving from Manahttan to somewhere in Japan.  It starts out as a good party and jason gives a video camera to his friend Hud (T.J. MILLER). Jason asks him to record as personal messages from the party-goers for Rob. Hud is also interested in Marlena Diamond (LIZZY CAPLAN) so he gets lots of footage of her. He also gets footage Beth McIntyre (ODETTE YUSTMAN), Rob's former girlfriend who comes to the party w/ another guy.

A thunderous explosion eventually shakes the building. Some of the group goes to the roof to investigate. That's when another explosion rocks Manhattan and this huge monster wreaks havoc on the city

The military arrives to do battle this thing while people try to get off the island. The power eventually goes out and the little group (Rob, Hud and others), their route is cut, off must figure out how to survive. The must avoid the monster and these spider-like creatures coming off the monster and start killing people.

I liked this movie more than I thought I would but I wasn’t wowed by it. For the genre, it held its own and more but I found myself thinking of “Godzilla” and trying to figure out why monster movies are made.

The entire film was shot as a POV experience of Hud and the video camera he was using. He captures everything as it unfolds. He was tapped to film a farewell for Rob and it turns out that way. This was also a major plot hole. Why does someone keep videotaping such destruction and bloodshed when their own life is in danger? I think most people would have dropped the camera to save their skin.

I think the filmmaking was good overall and I was captured by some sequences but it was not edge-of-your seat stuff. I also think dropping the Shaky-Cam stuff may have made the movie better.

The movie is full of chaos, blood and gore but it did contain a couple of good themes: self-sacrifice and love. Right after the monster attacks, Rob tries calling Beth. She answers and Rob knows she’s in trouble. Without too much deliberation, Rob sets on a mission to go and save her. His friends go along and Rob never seems bothered by the fact he’s the only one running back into the city. Rob wanted to save the woman he really loved.

If you are looking for big name stars, skip it. It doesn’t really have any. If you can’t take blood and gore, some saucy language and you are subject to motion sickness, get out of town.