[Rec] Reviews

(MU) Muy eficaz, se perdona hasta el idiot plot de algunos porque sí es muy creíble el contexto de que encierren a los habitantes y visitantes accidentales de un edificio apestado con una suerte de zombismo rabioso y caníbal...

We have to tape everything, Pablo. For fuck's sake.

Since watching the film "Quarantine", I've been on tenterhooks to see this film. And what I got was a messy mash of a so-called horror documentary, which follows the exact lines as the former film. Which isn't surprising, since "Quarantine" was supposed to be the remake of this one. The ONE good thing about this film is that we were given a clearer explanation of what happened, unlike the other film, which left us hanging, in a way.
The shots are eerie, which does add to the terror that slowly builds until the final shot of Angela being dragged away by some unseen force. But due to the shaky camera movements AND that I had to focus on the subtitles as well, didn't make me enjoy the film very much, even for a second time.
The storyline is the same: a reporter and her cameraman are sent to follow a group of firefighters as they go on their nightly rounds. It just so happens that they are sent into an apartment building where an old woman is screaming her lungs out. She appears to be in a state of shock, but when the firemen and police try to calm her down, she suddenly snaps out of her stupor and attacks one of the firemen, savagely biting at his throat. This is where all hell breaks loose, as the tenants demand to know what is happening and the authorities outside suddenly sealing the building shut. When a medical team is sent in to look at the situation, they learn that a virus has spread, and that one of the tenants' dog, Max, suddenly went rabid and attacked the other animals in the local pet store when it was taken in for a check-up. Now, the tenants have to find a way to stay alive, while it is left to the news crew to record every painstaking moment of their stay in the apartment... even if it kills them.
You might want to watch both films and see how the two compare to each other, but all I can say is: if you've seen one, you've seen both. ;)

The movie that inspired last year's Quarantine, so hard to find that i had to wait until after I saw Quarantine to even get my hands on it. I'm glad I waited and didn't see a bootlegged copy of it, because the version I am watching at this moment is doing a great job of sucking me into the film. Very hard to do for a horror movie with subtitles these days, escpecially while watching at home; one to definetly add to my Decade of Horror List! Both theories are in my head while watching this film; what do i think of it as a movie by itself? and How do I compare this to it's American English speaking remake? So far it's on the good side of the fence on both subjects. The amount of time was just about perfect leading up to the infamous call for the apartment with a woman stuck inside in distress. Just like people watching the titantic waited for the epic moment the ship hit an iceberg, I was on the edge of my seat up until the call was put out over the loud speaker. For one of the first times I have ever seen in a film made in another country, there is an asain family speaking perfect spanish. I'm actually wondering if the directors meant to do that and show there is cultural diversity in other countries besides America.. Makes you wonder. If so, that was very well played you two! With two types of enforcemnet and emergency protection in the dark about the current situation faced by everyone in the building, the future is deemed uncertain as people become attacked and question go unanswered. Important question like why are we trapped here against our will? Will we ever get out of here alive? Is the camera on the good side of my face for the shot? Haha, just made that one up to fool you guys. Responisible for winning 15 awards including the 2008's Silver Scream Award at the Amsterdam Fanatic Film Festival and being nominated for 5 more, This is a very good addition to my DVD collection.

Ángela: We have to tape everything, Pablo. For fuck's sake.

Take what Cloverfield took from The Blair Witch Project, add a dash of 28 Days Later, and then sprinkle on some sub-titles (at least, in my case),
& there you go. A quality zombie flick of which I rarely get to see without a giant glob of gooey camp splattered all over it.

''There's something more to this place. Our cells don't work. Neither does the T.V. or radio. We're isolated.''

"REC" turns on a young TV reporter and her cameraman who cover the night shift at the local fire station...

Manuela Velasco: Ángela Vidal

''Good evening, this is Angela Vidal speaking. Tonight, as usual, we will share this time...''

[Rec] is basically the most, original, raw, horror films to come out for an absolute age. A Spanish horror film, replicated in the style of Cloverfield or Open Water, utilizing that home filmed feel. After seeing [Rec] I can say it's nerve shreddingly effective. It felt like this is the horror film I've been begging for, ever since playing god send Games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill have I had a glimpse of what a film vision could be like, finally [Rec] gives me something terrifyingly real.

It comes off like 28 Weeks Later or 28 Days Later yet it's that unique minimalist way it's conceived, as with way they film it.
So [Rec]'s plot is basically about two reporters whom are doing a documentary about the firemen at a station during their night shift. We are treated to their respective routines and a glimpse of the function of the department. It really does feel like you're watching an actual documentary in motion.
As matters progress we see the firemen take on their first job while the reporters accompany them to a rescue of an old lady trapped within her apartment. What begins as a routine process turns into something extremely sinister and gruesome, not only that scarily terrifying.

''There are incredible security measures in place. We know nothing. They haven't told us a thing. We saw special forces, health inspectors wearing suits and masks, and it's not very comforting.''

Actress Manuela Velasco plays Ángela Vidal, the main protagonist, the pretty eye candy girl reporter, who's the viewers main companion alongside the secondary Pablo who remains unseen mostly during [Rec].
The rest of the cast are impressively gritty and real, Ferran Terraza, Jorge Serrano, Pablo Rosso, David Vert, Vicente Gil and a wonderful Claudia Font as a sweet young girl who becomes a vision of terror.
[Rec] was interestingly enough also made and shot in real locations. No sets were built to make this movie. During the filming of the scene where the young fireman falls from the stairs, not a single actor knew that was going to happen, so the reactions we see on the films were the real reactions of the actors themselves.
The film is co-directed by Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza and they have clearly dipped into the bucket of clichés with REC, but in doing so they have created something that is both fresh and reinvigorating. It should be noted that clichés aren't always a bad thing and when put to good use can give the audience exactly what they came to see. It's true that the plot is minimal and there are loose ends, but then the vast majority of horror films often suffer from these traits, and sometimes purposefully, but with REC it doesn't make the film any less enjoyable. It is also evident from the plot and the methods employed that the film is very low budget, but this does not do it any harm, instead it complements the narrative and increases the films appeal.

I believe the true quality of the film lies in its ability to cleverly use the history of the genre and the bare minimal of resources to its maximum potential, there's little room to doubt the reasons for the cameraman to continue filming and this is due to the fact it's his occupation. He is there to film a documentary and in true cameraman style his instincts take over. The acting on show here is also a lot better than some in Cloverfield and the people all look genuine, some are even unattractive, which is realism, not a Hollywood cop out.
To put it simply [Rec] features some of the most fear inducing and scariest scenes to date. It achieves a level of fear that's rarely experienced in cinema and if watching the film carefully it can be seen how. REC has been made by people that are incredibly familiar with the horror genre and fans will recognize the homages and the inspirations used, from classics such as Evil Dead, to The Shining, to 28 Days later and many more. With such a wealth of horror-viewing-experience combined with inspired film-making they are able to draw upon some of the best moments in horror history.

Towards the final reels the film plays like an amalgamation of ideas and inspirations. One of which is the influence of contemporary video gaming as some scenes allude to how certain computer games work ( such as first person shooters) and this is supported by the POV technique as we, the viewer, live the character of the cameraman much in the same way a gamer lives the character he/she is in control of. This notion is furthered by the different levels in the apartment building, the films use of rooms, the final scenes and several allegories to various computer games including the mentioned Resident Evil, Alone in the Dark and Silent Hill.

For a feature film it is incredibly short, at a mere 75 minutes, in fact it is closer to the length of a TV documentary which is possibly its goal. I cannot recommend this film enough and have even attempted to script my review in a way as to not give too much away of it's genius masterful strokes, as it is a [Rec]comendation that needs to seen. Watch it with the lights off, alone, if you dare...

''It's nearly 2 A.M. and we're still sealed in this building that we came to with the firemen earlier this evening, to assist an elderly woman who later attacked a policeman and a fireman. They're both in critical condition. The police won't let us leave and are giving us no explanations.''

"Yesterday, we received a call from a vet who had a dog brought in with an unknown disease. The dog went into a coma and a few moments later came to, and was extraordinarily aggressive. He started attacking all of the pets at the clinic. We had to give him several tranquilizers and then put him to sleep. We followed the chip in his ear, which led us to this building."

To most horror aficionados, the words "found footage" will bring back memories of 1999's The Blair Witch Project and the insurmountable hype surrounding this low-budget independent picture. Due to the popularity and cult following of Blair Witch, the "found footage" genre was swiftly established.
[Rec] is a Spanish addition to the genre. It's a masterful mixture of Blair Witch and Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later... that, simply put, will scare the absolute hell out of you! [Rec] is a relentlessly scary, brilliantly conceived, marvellously executed and laudably effective horror film. It permits little respite, thus little chance for you to catch your breath. By the end you'll be gasping for air and begging for mercy. The movie is completely unyielding from the first frame 'til the last. It's riveting and utterly petrifying at a taut running time of about 75 minutes.

Forget Cloverfield and Diary of the Dead (two other recent "found footage" flicks), as [Rec] is more focused and far more terrifying. In Cloverfield a group of party-goers brave the destroyed streets and subways of monster-torn Manhattan. Diary of the Dead follows film students roaming the back roads of Pennsylvania as they avoid a zombie plague. In [Rec] - as in the record button on a camera - the action is confined to a single claustrophobic apartment block and the nature of the threat is mysterious. The film is a deft combination of blatant gory genre thrills and terror of the unknown. Nothing is more terrifying than being trapped in a pitch black room struggling for light as eerie noises fill the air. It's a thrilling, enthralling, captivating experience and the best of its kind. You want nightmares? You'll get 'em for sure! This is the greatest horror film since Neil Marshall's The Descent.

In tradition with similar films of the sub-genre, the entire flick is merely raw, unedited footage as if someone recovered a tape and viewed the contents. [Rec] opens with a fairly soft, gentle prologue as we're introduced to the crew of a late-night reality TV show called While You're Sleeping - invisible cameraman Pablo (Rosso) and presenter Ángela (Velasco). The two will be covering the activities at a local fire station for the duration of the night. Ángela (with trusty cameraman Pablo) tours the station; examining equipment and interviewing the squad. However boredom sets in as emergencies are scarce and the phone fails to ring. The monotony of the situation is soon broken when the team is summoned by a seemingly innocuous call: an old woman is trapped in her apartment. The news team accompany the firemen in the hope of getting an interesting scoop; instead they become trapped in the apartment building that's suddenly quarantined for mysterious reasons. An infection begins spreading throughout the building...and all hell breaks loose as everyone is soon fighting for their lives while Ángela records a running commentary.

"It's nearly 2 A.M. and we're still sealed in this building that we came to with the firemen earlier this evening, to assist an elderly woman who later attacked a policeman and a fireman. They're both in critical condition. The police won't let us leave and are giving us no explanations."

Cranking the tension up to 11, Spanish co-directors Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza utilise every tool at their disposal to frighten and disturb, from shutting out the lights to the sudden menacing presence of an "infected" individual. This is high-quality horror that terrifies on a truly primal level. This is perhaps the correct antidote to suppress the constant conventional horror outings of the early 21st century. [Rec] is already the stuff of nightmares, but the ingeniousness of the film is telling the story using the news team's hand-held camera. This device was used to great effect in the J.J. Abrams blockbuster Cloverfield, but [Rec] takes things to a whole new level. Cloverfield followed party-goers filming a monster attack on the city because they want to document the event. Diary of the Dead used the technique for the sake of using the technique. In [Rec] the characters have a genuine reason to keep the camera rolling - they're despondent, arrogant journalists sitting on the story of their lives. Beyond that, the camera becomes a method for the victims to record their testimonies and they believe it can be exploited as proof such an occurrence actually transpired.

At about the 50-minute mark, the film's brilliance suddenly elevates once again. For the remaining 20 minutes the film is riveting and fast-paced. It builds to an absolutely incredible climax that refuses mercy to everyone.

"There are incredible security measures in place. We know nothing. They haven't told us a thing. We saw special forces, health inspectors wearing suits and masks, and it's not very comforting."

The film is carried by a remarkable screenplay. In order for us to feel emotionally connected to the characters during the catastrophe, solid characterisations are imperative. Regardless of the film's "found footage" style, the sprawling congregation of characters are adequately developed. Opening with straight-to-camera intros for Ángela's TV show, the writer-directors quickly sketch her character - a sassy, resourceful reporter - before locking us in the apartment block and tossing away the key. Playing the realism card, the journalists wish to interview the residents of the apartment building as the night grows more intense. These interviews function effectively as character development. However, the film is occasionally undermined by the sheer idiocy of the characters. While escape plans are devised late into the game, the most obvious exit is finally mentioned. Every so often it's problematical to connect with the characters on a truly human level as they act like clichéd, one-dimensional horror victims.

The shaky-cam style employed for [Rec] has naturally been subjected to bitter criticisms. There are no prologues or epilogues in the form of text or narration. From start to finish, the zombie-type threat is obscured in anonymity. To be frank, text or voice-over explication would subdue the impact. The film is simply intended to be an unmolested copy of a tape recovered at the scene, and this illusion is never severely ruined. The shaky-cam style works effectively as we are deafened by each gun-shot and are shaken up by each attack or bone-chilling happening. The faux docu hand-held technique amps up the single-location claustrophobia brilliantly. Wobbly-cam shots add to the confusion as [Rec] reels out the customary zombie movie clichés: shouting supporting characters, a kiddie zombie and callous authorities failing to do anything useful (who, in an utter masterstroke, are glimpsed only as silhouettes as they tightly pack the building in biohazard plastic).

The acting is uniformly excellent. This is naturalistic acting at its finest. Never do any actors strike an incorrect note, nor are they contrived. Velasco is particularly convincing as the gormless reporter and her subsequent terror is all the more infectious as a result. There's strong support from the surrounding actors, including Ferran Terraza, Jorge Serrano, David Vert and Vicente Gil. The filmmakers keep the dialogue largely improvisational, elevating the realism. The effective filming approach merged with such brilliant acting allows you to forget that this is just a movie. The edge-of-your-seat tension is sustained until the very last second. Films of this standard are few and far between.

"There's something more to this place. Our cells don't work. Neither does the T.V. or radio. We're isolated."

[Rec] is a consummate brew of high-class shocks and verité, generating one of the best horror films of recent memory. This is a rare cinematic treat - a horror film that relies on suspense created by fear of the unknown as opposed to geysers of blood and gore. This is a runaway rollercoaster of a fright flick that's so scary it'll leave you squirming in your seat. From the gentle opening to the shocking climax, I was riveted. Never did I even glance at my watch or allow my eyes to focus on anything other than the screen. Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza orchestrate a number of nail-bitingly suspenseful sequences as well as some genuine jump-out-of-your-seat moments. Suffice to say, nothing in the previous work of the joint directors could have prepared us for the nerve-shredding intensity of these 75 minutes of perfectly formed terror and peril. This is a sublime, well-done little flick that demands to be seen at the earliest opportunity. It's so good that Sony's Screen Gens snapped up the rights for a US remake entitled Quarantine. Highly [Rec]ommended!

"We have to tape everything, Pablo. For fuck's sake.

8.8/10