By Kofi Outlaw

Monster-takes-Manhattan flick CLOVERFIELD has been generating buzz ever since a teaser trailer shocked audiences with a shot of the Statue of Liberty’s head crash-landing into Soho. The film recently earned a rave review, and some analysts are already predicting that its lean budget, modest marketing costs, and impressive Internet hype, will make CLOVERFIELD the most profitable film of 2008. However, despite having so many things going for it, come Jan. 18, CLOVERFIELD’s success will ultimately hinge on its most closely guarded secret: the monster.

Producer J.J. Abrams has a reputation for plunging audiences into harrowing, baffling, terrifying, circumstances, (looking at you LOST,) without ever pulling back the curtain to reveal the mystery. While assurances have been made that the CLOVERFIELD monster will be revealed during the course of the film, virtually no one has seen the beast in the flesh…until now?

The good bloggers at Slash Film recently posted a series of drawings that are alleged to depict the CLOVERFIELD creature. The artwork was done entirely by fans, who deciphered the creature’s look from early reviews of the film. (STOP READING NOW IF YOU HOPE TO AVOID SPOILERS.)

Based on some consistent traits in the sketches, you can surmise that the monster is basically the missing link between horse, gorilla, lizard, and Dinosaur (big lizard), with some alien thrown in for good measure. I especially like the exaggerated “forearms,” toothy mouth, and whip-like tail, which appears in the first picture, which is alleged to be the most accurate of the bunch. This monster is built for some serious demolition.

Another interesting aspect of the film to come to light recently is the existence of the smaller, “parasite” creatures, which appear in this fan sketch:

Allegedly, when the big beastie rises up from the ocean he’s carrying the natural parasites that animals, (and anti-shower humans,) carry on them. However, on a creature the size of a skyscraper, those parasites become dog sized, crab-legged little buggers with a taste for blood. I admit it’s a clever device—one of many clever and original devices CLOVERFIELD is said to use to its advantage. The presence of a smaller and more numerous threat like the parasites should keep audiences much further out on the edge of their seats than watching pedestrians scramble to avoid one giant, lumbering monster for two hours.

Take a minute to look over the pics, and the latest TV spot for CLOVERFIELD, and rant back to us about how excited you are (not) to have a fresh (and possibly quality) monster movie to enjoy in the new year.