"Super 8" stars hit the red carpet

(CBS) The stars of "Super 8" walked the red carpet on Wednesday night at its Los Angeles premiere, though one of the film's biggest cast members was nowhere to be seen - the unseen monster that terrorizes the 1979 Ohio town where the movie takes place.

But everyone else was on hand for the black-carpet premiere, where actress Elle Fanning told CBSNews.com's Scott Edward that the J.J. Abrams-directed, Steven Spielberg-produced film has more than just thrills.

Pictures: "Super 8" premiere
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"In one scene you'll be on the edge of your seat, and in the next one you'll be crying, and two scenes later you'll be laughing hysterically," she said. "It has everything in it that I think makes movies so special."

Spielberg told Edwards the film's young cast, featuring Fanning, Joel Courtney, Riley Griffiths and Zach Mills, gave "incredible performances."

In the film, those kids witness a train crash while making a movie on a super 8 camera. Soon after, a ferocious monster begins wreaking havoc on their town.

Abrams called shooting the film in a small town "a wonderful thing."

"The movie literally came from just wanting to do something based on being a kid, making movies on super 8 film, and obviously the story evolved from there," he said. "It became more of a love story, a family film and also a monster movie."

Other stars who attended the premiere included Tom Cruise, Conan O'Brien, Jenna Elfman, Bill Hader, Josh Holloway, Kyle Chandler and Jaime King.

"Super 8" opens in theaters tomorrow.

Tell us: Are you planning to see "Super 8"?