Review of [REC]² (2009) by Sarfaraz A — 18 Sep 2013

REC Spanish zombie-horror film co-written and directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza. Starring Manuela Velasco as television reporter with cameraman Pablo - making a documentary 'While You're Asleep' over the tough jobs of Firefighters in the town. Film has spawned two sequels, in 2009 and 2012 respectively (fourth sequel is slated for release soon which is to be concluding part of the series) - the Hollywood as always thought not to miss another chance and thus released a remake titled 'Quarantine'. REC was filmed in Barcelona (Spain). REC is short-form for 'recording' since the movie is filmed in POV style, containing shaky (but not as weird as found elsewhere). It was premiered at Venice International Film Festival, Glasgow Film Festival and Sitges Film Festival.

Angela is a television reporter with unseen cameraman Pablo (who has been recording her using shaky camera - cut-to-blank - black-out footage) - they are at city firefight-station, making a documentary called 'While You're Asleep'. The team enters an apartment after receiving call from an elderly woman. They come to see peculiar incidents which took place recently in the building occupied by small number of people - to their surprise they have been cordoned off by the police outside, citing declaration of CBR (Chemical Biological Radiation). Slowly zombies start to come out of deserted apartments on the top of the building.

Manuela looks beautiful and aspiring young woman - her desperate urge to find out about wicked circumstances entangling people on the ground floor, makes the movie appealing. It contains no childish or foolish acting from characters, including minor characters as well. It gives sense of realization that horror movies like this secure an ultimate place in the audience due to hardworking of the filmmakers. The last half hour of the movie is enough to grip an audience, expecting what could best be expected out of such movies.