Unlike modern CGI-fests, Super 8 holds up because of its practical effects. The train crash used real explosives and model trains. The alien was a mix of animatronics and CGI. Watching this in gives you the texture of a 70s film while keeping the digital crispness.
The film is a masterclass in balancing childlike wonder with genuine terror. It isn't just about the alien—it's about grief (the protagonist loses his mother), friendship, and the power of letting go.