Not as well-paced, effective or terrifying...

Almost inarguably, 2007s [Rec] was the most accomplished, downright terrifying horror outing of the noughties; a nerve-shredding, riveting journey into the heart of demonic darkness elevated by convincing performances and top-notch scares. Hollywood even churned out a remake a year later in the form of 2008's Quarantine. Owing to the strong reception of [Rec] and the nature of its climax, a sequel was virtually guaranteed. Problem is, how does one create a quality sequel to the greatest horror film of its decade? [Rec] 2 could have been a fundamental remake of the original film with the same basic scenario transplanted into another location. Instead, writer-directors Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza perceived [Rec] 2 as a chance to significantly expand upon the mythology of their original creation in unique and shocking ways, and allow the narrative to progress ahead to the next logical step. Granted, the film is not as well-paced, effective or terrifying as its predecessor, but it's far better than most Hollywood horror tosh of late.

[Rec] 2 opens during the immediate aftermath of the events of the first movie. A few SWAT team members and a doctor from the Ministry of Health are heading inside the apartment building to investigate what happened within it. And sure enough, the truth behind the infection is soon revealed. The deceptively simple original movie hinted at reasons for the outbreak, but [Rec] 2 expands and elaborates on them. To be sure, the reasons provided aren't going to work for everyone, but in this reviewer's eyes it's an interesting twist on your usual zombie fare. Sure, some will probably yearn for the primal simplicity of the film's predecessor, but this type of sequel is more desirable than a fundamental remake of the first film without anything new (the Final Destination sequels, anyone?).

Similar to its forerunner, the proceedings of [Rec] 2 are captured from the first-person perspective of a man holding a video camera. Much like the plot, the filmmakers decided to add a few new twists to their filming style as well. In particular, the SWAT members are equipped with cameras on the helmets to help document the events inside the building, and the main camera can plug into the perspective of the SWAT members at any given time. With the dark nature of the apartment's interior, events are at times obscured, and this makes for a tense, nail-biting experience. The fact that the attacks take place in small, cramped, dark spaces, and that we're watching from the point of view of the characters, means that a viewer can experience claustrophobia alongside the characters. As this is a "found footage" film, there is no score - sound effects act as a substitute for the music, and thankfully the sound design is top-notch; generating an effective atmosphere. Put simply, the illusion that these events have been captured via a simple home video camera, and that the tapes have not been tampered with, is virtually unbroken. While it can be argued that these achievements are less impressive due to the first [Rec] having pulled them off already, how often is it when the spirit and techniques of an original movie are successfully emulated for the follow-up?

However, the "found footage" gimmick is harmed by an inordinate amount of contrivances. There are no less than two shifts in the main camera, and each is too unbelievably convenient. Especially contrived is the second camera shift - the battery for one camera runs out just as the main characters come into possession of another camera... Another major weakness of [Rec] 2 is that, thanks to the jumps in the main camera, there are no memorable characters, or even a main protagonist to connect or empathise with. Considering that a SWAT team was sent into the building, why couldn't there be one interesting, badass hero to root for? As it is, all the SWAT guys are one-dimensional men of action who shout a lot, shoot things, and macho posture but do little else. I don't even remember their names, and their largely interchangeable nature limits the effectiveness of the terror. If one is unable to connect with people, not a great deal of urgency is felt on their behalf. As it stands, [Rec] 2 is a fun, occasionally thrilling adrenaline rush, but more attention to developing interesting characters could have offered some genuine emotion, and bolstered the quality of the movie. It also goes without saying that the characters do stupid things. The SWAT guys are so hesitant to use their firearms in the direst of situations, for instance.

In spite of the strengths of [Rec] 2 - the uniformly convincing acting, the great prosthetic effects, a number of thrilling moments, and a great expansion on the mythology of the series - it's still disappointing. It never manages to reach the dizzying heights of the original [Rec], and even this sequel's strongest moments are no patch on the first film's greatest moments. It's such a shame the effort just wasn't as solid this time around.

6.2/10