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Explaining Cloverfield & It’s Weird, Chaotic Multiverse

The Cloverfield franchise has had a long, bizarre journey to being a big-name horror franchise. The J.J. Abrams-produced sci-fi horror film had its way to theaters paved by an especially strange and engaging ARG (alternate reality game); played through the internet, fans dove into a series of puzzling websites, hidden images, and in-universe promotional materials that told a twisted story of corporate conspiracy. At its center? Slushy drinks, kawaii mascots, satellite crashes, seabed-dwelling parasites, and of course, a 300-foot-tall aquatic monster fans would dub Clover.

With viral marketing on a whole other level, a simple kaiju movie wrapped in a found footage package became THE landmark horror film of 2008 and soon embedded itself into the hearts and minds of horror fans worldwide. It became so big in fact that the brand name eventually consumed other unrelated films: The Cellar, which was eventually retitled and rewritten to become 10 Cloverfield Lane, and God Particle, which eventually became The Cloverfield Paradox. 

Cloverfield as a pop culture entity is an undeniable juggernaut with active fans still discussing it and its sequels to this day. But what brings together these three films, with a prospective fourth still in development? Today, we explain exactly what makes the Cloververse tick.

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2 years ago

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The Cloverfield franchise has had a long, bizarre journey to being a big-name horror franchise. The J.J. Abrams-produced sci-fi horror film had its way to theaters paved by an especially strange and engaging ARG (alternate reality game); played through the internet, fans dove into a series of puzzling websites, hidden images, and in-universe promotional materials that told a twisted story of corporate conspiracy. At its center? Slushy drinks, kawaii mascots, satellite crashes, seabed-dwelling parasites, and of course, a 300-foot-tall aquatic monster fans would dub Clover.

With viral marketing on a whole other level, a simple kaiju movie wrapped in a found footage package became THE landmark horror film of 2008 and soon embedded itself into the hearts and minds of horror fans worldwide. It became so big in fact that the brand name eventually consumed other unrelated films: The Cellar, which was eventually retitled and rewritten to become 10 Cloverfield Lane, and God Particle, which eventually became The Cloverfield Paradox. 

Cloverfield as a pop culture entity is an undeniable juggernaut with active fans still discussing it and its sequels to this day. But what brings together these three films, with a prospective fourth still in development? Today, we explain exactly what makes the Cloververse tick.

WAIT, WHAT IS THE CLOVERVERSE?

The three different films of the Cloverfield franchise take place across 4 separate universes, with the multiverse at large being dubbed the Cloververse by fans back in 2016 with the release of 10 Cloverfield Lane. 

The multiverse angle was only truly established in the third film, The Cloverfield Paradox; while Paradox explores astronauts trying to access infinite energy through a particle accelerator and messing up terribly, this inciting incident is the lynchpin that connects all three films. 

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A scene of a conspiracy theorist named Mark Stambler (a relative of that universe’s Howard Stambler from 10 Cloverfield Lane) on television elaborates that Clover, the aliens from Lane, and other creatures could be summoned by the ignition of the Shepard particle accelerator. When the fabric of space-time was ruptured by the accelerator firing off, it “unleashed chaos” and seemingly scattered horrific aliens across the multiverse. 

Hence, Cloververse.

WHAT IS CLOVER?

A juvenile kaiju of an unknown species, Clover is the most notable of the monsters released by this event. Created by concept artist and creature designer Neville Page, Clover was described by director Matt Reeves and company as a frightened child that had been wrenched from its mother, causing it to rampage across the world after being woken up. 

Dubbed the Large-Scale Aggressor by the U.S. government, the creature was an alien adapted for aquatic environments and could go for extended periods of dormancy at the bottom of the ocean. It carried on its body thousands of aggressive, dog-sized parasites, which only compounded the damages done to New York by Clover’s attack.

It was also effectively unkillable, surviving everything thrown at it, including the Hammerdown Protocol bombing that ended the first film. A subtle message in the end credits reveals that the creature is still alive, and quite possibly grew into a similar giant monster seen at the end of The Cloverfield Paradox.  

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WHERE DID CLOVER COME FROM?

A long-time debate among Cloverfield fans was spurred by exactly this question, and by the final scene of the film which shows an object falling into the Atlantic Ocean. The ARG and J.J. Abrams’s own answers suggest the object is a satellite, but director Matt Reeves seems to believe this is the monster. Most disagree with Reeves because the ARG goes to lengths to explain the timeline of events leading up to Clover’s attack on New York, which just doesn’t work if it is Clover. 

Without getting lost in the weeds of exact dates, the ARG details that a Japanese satellite known as the Chimpanzee III crashed into the Atlantic Ocean under mysterious circumstances, a portion of which ended up off the coast of New York (which we see in the final moments of the film). Tagruato, a shadowy transnational corporation with concerted interests in deep sea drilling, went on the hunt for the rest of the satellite and discovered a dormant Clover. An oil drilling station was established over the creature’s location as a coverup, and Tagruato experimentation at that drill site eventually woke it up. 

In short: Clover was torn into the universe by the Shepard accelerator, went dormant at the bottom of the ocean, was woken up by Tagruato, and then subsequently went on a rampage. 

WHAT WOKE UP CLOVER?

Among the many Tagruato subsidiaries, none was as popular as Slusho!, a drink company that was quickly becoming the most popular beverage in the world. A big part of the ARG is a series of video messages and emails detailing the titular soft drink was made with an addictive chemical compound called Seabed’s Nectar. Seabed’s Nectar was toxic when consumed in its raw form as seen in the Jamie videos of the ARG, causing hallucinations and eventually death in humans after continued consumption. 

The Special Investigation commentary on the home release of Cloverfield revealed that the thousands of Parasites that landed in New York City with Clover all had high levels of Seabed’s Nectar in their blood. The Parasites, Clover, or both were the source of Seabed’s Nectar, and Tagruato’s misguided attempts to extract and farm it from the creatures woke it up. 

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Still, kind of thirsty for some Slusho. 

ARE THE ALIENS FROM 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE RELATED TO CLOVER?

Probably not. Chances are they’re just one of many threats caused by a misguided attempt to harness infinite energy. J.J. Abram’s has said in the past that he’s hoping for the Cloverfield series to end up as more of an anthology than anything else, so there’s no telling where the story goes from here. I’m just hoping we get either the return of the parasites or some nasty new monster designs.

***

And that will be it for today’s Horror 101 lesson. See you in the next class and stay tuned to Horror Press’s social media feeds for more content on horror movies, television, and everything in between!

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Luis Pomales-Diaz is a freelance writer and lover of fantasy, sci-fi, and of course, horror. When he isn't working on a new article or short story, he can usually be found watching schlocky movies and forgotten television shows.

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Shudder in January 2026

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1 month ago

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January 2, 2026

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My New Year’s resolution is to spend more time watching my favorite app. Luckily, Shudder is not taking it easy on us this holiday season, so I may meet my quota this January. The streamer is bringing in the new year with quite a few bangers. We have classics from icons, a new title from the first family of indie horror, and a couple of lesser-known films that have finally found a home. So, I am obviously living for this month’s programming and think most of you will too. I have picked the five films that I believe deserve our collective attention the most. Get into each of them and start your 2026 off on the right foot. 

The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month

Carrie (1976)

A sheltered teen finally unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated for the last time. Carrie is the reason I thought proms might be cool when I was a kid. This Brian De Palma adaptation is one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations. It is also an important title in the good-for-her subgenre. I cannot help rooting for Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) when I watch her snap at this prom and then head home to accidentally deal with her mom. The only tragedy of this evening is that Carrie had to die, too. I said what I said, and I will be hitting play again while it is on Shudder. This recommendation goes out to the other recovering sheltered girls who would be the problem if they had powers. I see you because I am you.

You can watch Carrie on January 1st.

Marshmallow (2025)

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A shy 12-year-old gets sent to summer camp and finds himself in a living nightmare. While Marshmallow did not land for me, I know plenty of people who love it. Which makes this the perfect addition to the Shudder catalogue. I am actually excited to see more folks fall in love with this movie when it hits the streamer. If nothing else, it will help a few folks cross off another 2025 title if they are still playing catch-up with last year’s movies. It also gets cool points from me for not taking the easy route with the mystery it built. I hope you all dig it more than I did, and tell your friends about it. Perhaps you could even encourage them to sign up for the app.

You can watch Marshmallow on January 1st.

Chain Reactions (2024)

Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre cemented his horror legacy over fifty years ago. So, it is long overdue for a documentary where horror royalty can discuss its impact on them and their careers. I have been waiting for a couple of years to hear Karyn Kusama and Takashi Miike talk about Hooper’s work and how he inspired them. So, I am super geeked that Shudder is finally giving me the chance to see this film. The streamer is also helping the nerds out by adding The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986) this month. If you are also an overachieving couch potato, I will see you at the finish line next week.

You can watch Chain Reactions on January 9th.

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In the Mouth of Madness (1994)

An insurance investigator discovers the impact a horror writer’s books have on people. I love chaos, and John Carpenter chaos happens to be one of my favorite kinds of chaos. While we talk about The Thing and Halloween all the time, this maestro has given us plenty of horror to celebrate. In the Mouth of Madness is very much one of those titles vying for a top spot among the best of his filmography. To sweeten the batshit pot, this movie features Sam Neill. You know that he only shows up in our genre if the movie is going to be legendary. You cannot tell me this is not a Shudder priority this month.

You can watch In the Mouth of Madness on January 10th.

Mother of Flies (2025)

A terminally ill young woman and her dad head to the woods to seek out a recluse who claims she can cure her cancer. The Adams Family has been holding court on Shudder for years, so it feels right that Mother of Flies is a Shudder Original. More importantly, this fest favorite has one of the best performances of 2025. Which makes it a great time for people to finally get to see it and get in line to give Toby Poser her flowers. Whatever you think your favorite Poser role is, it is about to change when you see her as Solveig. I am being serious when I say that this movie might be the first family of indie horror at their best.

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You can watch Mother of Flies on January 23rd.

New year, but same Shudder. I would not want to go into 2026 any other way, personally. I hope these horrific recommendations bring you the good kind of anxiety.  Or at least distract you from the state of the world for a bit.

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Netflix in January 2026

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1 month ago

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January 2, 2026

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I’m happy Netflix knew I would be back on my bull shit. Now that we’re in January, and the end-of-year lists are done, I’m trying to cram as many 2025 titles into my eyeballs as I possibly can. I know it sounds backwards, but it’s sadly a yearly tradition now. No matter how many titles you cram into a year, there are always a ton more you missed. Because I am broken, I need to know if I missed anything that should have been on my lists ASAP. Then I can drag myself for not getting my eyeballs on things sooner. Or worse, seeing titles that came out after my deadline and would have definitely been on there. I need to feel resentment for their schedules not letting me be great. 

Luckily for me, the streamer has dropped quite a bit of new stuff recently. This includes movies and shows that I put off, or that legitimately premiered a couple of weeks ago. So, now I can spiral in the comfort of my own home as I binge all of these titles like a maniac. If you are also trying to walk into the new year stressed out, then maybe this streaming guide is for you, too.

City of Shadows (2025)

When a burned body is put on display on the facade of an iconic building, two inspectors must work together to solve the crime. I don’t know much about this Spanish thriller, but I know winter is the time for an unsettling mystery. The show is based on the first book of the Milo Malart tetralogy written by Aro Sáinz de la Maza. So, if it’s as good as I hope it is, there is a whole world with this inspector awaiting us in print. I’m ready to take all six of these episodes in one setting if the streaming Gods allow.

Frankenstein (2025)

Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Christoph Waltz are among the names in this newest adaptation of the beloved Gothic horror classic. Guillermo del Toro’s take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is clearly one of the top priorities this month. While I skipped it in festivals because of the runtime, I knew I would have a date with it on Netflix this winter. While it has been on the streamer for a minute, I wasn’t able to dedicate two and a half hours to it. I also had watched my friends’ mixed reviews come in, and couldn’t take another disappointment last year. So, I saved this treat for the holiday. Fingers crossed, it is better than people are saying it is. 

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I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)

A new group of friends is tormented by a new stalker in this sequel to Kevin Williamson’s other ’90s slasher. I’m indifferent to the I Know What You Did Last Summer movies. Some are less awful than others, and I think this one was fine, but I know the original source material. Which means I know just how far they stray from what the original author, Lois Duncan, was about. So, I look at these movies and the flimsy premise they repeat differently than a lot of my friends. I think it’s an interesting look at how IP gets handled in Hollywood, but I don’t usually get much out of these. Which is another reason I’m kinder to this Jennifer Kaytin Robinson film than some people. While I won’t be rewatching it this January, I think a lot of people who missed it in theaters are going to have fun with some of these kills now that it’s on Netflix. 

Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025)

The long-awaited conclusion to Stranger Things is finally upon us! Will Vecna take out some of this ridiculously large cast on the way out? I hope so. Will we pretend to be surprised when Eddie Munson gets a few seconds of screentime? I refuse to play this game. However, are we all going to tune in to see how this epic ride ends? You betcha! I hate that they’re breaking this final season up into three chunks, but I will be sitting for all of them. 

The first four episodes hit in November. The next three landed on Netflix on December 25, and the finale premiered on December 31. I don’t know what to expect, but I know I am so ready to close this chapter of my relationship with Netflix and the Duffer Brothers. If it is even half as good as season four, then I will be a very happy nerd.

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Troll 2 (2025)

A new troll awakens, causing Nora, Andreas, and Captain Kris to find new allies to take it down. This Norwegian monster flick almost got by me, so I’m happy Netflix dropped the trailer for this one. I’m using this as an excuse to finally watch the first one. I’m thinking a double feature is in order, so I can spend a whole day with these trolls. This is not my usual type of party, but after Troll Hunter won me over, I figure anything can happen. So, I will not judge you if you’re not feeling this out of left field pick. Just know that I’m running at it with an open mind and hoping to see some carnage as a reward. 

These are just the Netflix titles I’m prioritizing. This is in no way a complete overview of all of the new shows and movies they’ve added this winter. We also know that they usually have a ton of international bangers that they refuse to advertise. So, I end up stumbling over Korean titles every January and then trying to tell people we missed some really excellent stuff. So, pick up your remote and turn your phone off. It’s time to Netflix and Chill in the less sexy and more nerdy way.

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