Well, yeah, it was used in Blair Witch but here there's more going on. The subject, aside from the monster, is ever changing. This would later inspire Romero's Diary of the Dead which pretty much lead to Quarantine.

Cloverfield
 

I actually have a totally different opinion on the film., i think abrahms done this really well, it's nothing like blair witch.. but i'm not a film critique or dont have any specialist opinion on it.
I went to see the film on it's release here in the UK and got the DVD on the day of release, I just wish whoever was in charge of the toy distribution would of given the rights to Mcfarlane or someone who wouldnt fuck it up..
for example if you pay for something at $100 or whatever from Mcfarlane.. chances are it's going to be well worth it.. hasbro on the other hand, you'll have mispainted limbs.. and missing parasites.. and yes they'll expect you to fork out all that cash because they have 'extended experience in the action figure world'
shame that experience doesnt count for nothing eh?

Back to the film, with monster stompers.. we're not going to see any acting awards are we? I mean the whole idea is that the panic, destruction and chaos is recreated.. and i feel with all due respect.. abrahms didnt choose the big alisters on the cast list, he went for people with a good proportion of experience but ones who are up and coming in the acting world.

Dont get me wrong, i'm not saying its my best ever film.. but it's certainly not the worst and i definately wouldnt of turned it off after 40 minutes, but .. ah well each to their own, media whether it be music or television and film is way open to tastes and personal interpretation.