Doktor von Plot Explanation

A more academically-minded Basil Exposition, Doktor von Plot Explanation is the character who comes on in a monster film and reveals to the main characters what has created the beast that is attacking them.

The absence of the Doktor was a big plus point for Mark when reviewing Cloverfield; the origins of the monster are left completely unknown, aside from the fact that Simon's son identified it as a bug, "because it's got a flappy thing on its head."