We all know that J.J. Abrams loves his mysteries and so far the biggest mystery surrounding his new alien invasion movie Super 8 -- apart from how jealous Dakota Fanning is that her baby sister Elle is working with folks like J.J. and Sofia Coppola while she's stuck in yet another Twilight movie -- is what the extra-terrestrial looks like. Abrams has played this game of "hide the alien monster" before, most notably in the 2008 Godzilla riff Cloverfield, which he produced. In that film, after spending the entire movie running away -- or, more often, dumbly running towards -- the unseen beastie, the remaining survivors at last come face to face with the creature and... it's about as scary as that big red Rambaldi ball from Alias. Here's hoping Abrams learned his lesson with Super 8 and devoted more time to designing a monstrous creature that's actually, y'know, monstrous. Moviegoers will find out for themselves this week, but in the meantime, here's a look back at previous alien invaders and whether they passed the fear test when we finally see them in all their horrible glory.

Tags: JJ Abrams, Super 8

Steven Spielberg's name is featured so prominently in all the trailers and poster for Super 8, you'd be forgiven for thinking that The Bearded One himself directed this summer season's latest would-be blockbuster. That feeling only intensifies in the movie's first few moments, which sets us down in a small Spielbergian town circa 1979 to the strains of a dreamy John Williams-ish score (actually composed by the always-stellar Michael Giacchino). But then the first of many lens flares strikes the camera and you remember, "Oh right! This is a J.J. Abrams joint!"

Tags: J.J. Abrams, Super 8

When Abrams met Spielberg...

Tags: Conan The Barbarain, Super 8