'Cloverfield' Makes Viewers Nauseated

Jan. 25, 2008— -- The big surprise for some viewers of the recently released horror film "Cloverfield" isn't seeing the monster bent on destroying New York -- it's motion sickness.

Some moviegoers have reported becoming nauseated while watching the blockbuster, which has been filmed to mimic a home video recording of a monster attack. In response, some theaters have posted signs about the picture's nauseating effects and offered refunds to sick ticket holders.

Movie theater company AMC Entertainment is showing the film at 276 locations on 500 screens throughout the country and has posted signs outside each auditorium that read, "Due to the filming method used for 'Cloverfield,' guests viewing this film may experience side effects associated with motion sickness, similar to riding a roller coaster."

AMC Entertainment spokeswoman Laurie Roberts could not say how many complaints from sick viewers had been filed, but that people who became sick and left the movie early would be refunded the price of admission.

"I knew in the first 10 minutes I wasn't going to last through the whole movie," said Sam Friedman, 23, who saw the film when it opened last weekend in New York City.

"It was 'Blair Witch' on crack. The camera was waving back and forth, back and forth. I stayed for about an hour just to find out what the hell a cloverfield was."

Friedman said he did not bother trying to get a refund. "I was just so happy to get out of the theater and get a breath of air," he said. "The theater was packed, but several people left before I did."

"Cloverfield," produced by J.J. Abrams and directed by Matt Reeves, cost just $30 million to make, but earned $41 million when it opened last weekend, setting a record for a January opening.