Review of [REC] (2007) by Phillip M — 05 Jul 2011

At the time [Rec] came out, there weren't so many shaky-cam/found footage/mockumentary films as there are now. Undoubtedly, The Blair Witch Project helped fuel horror films into adopting this interesting style. But if overdone and too common, it gets old really fast. And I have to say, even after rewatching for the third time, I found it still a fun and scary movie.

Angela (Velasco) is a local reporter; she and her cameraman Pablo (Vosso) are covering a bland story at a local fire station. What seems like an ordinary, actionless night at the fire station turns out to be a life changing and possibly even career promoting event for young Angela. The firemen receive a call from an apartment building, but what the uniformed men and TV crew experience is something they could not have prepared for.

What carries the film is the acting and directorial style of the film. With a conventional story, short running time and the narrow strip of time that the film actually takes place in, it would be easy to see this film fail. But Velasco does such a great job as portraying an eager reporter and the first person view helps elevates what essentially is an average film. Also, the obscurity of the actors helps sell [Rec] better than a well known cast.

On the surface, it's a pretty simple zombie-esque/infected movie. You could look deeper into it when Angela shouts out that they should keep recording. That they have the right to know why they are being sealed off from society, and that everyone who is not experiencing what they are right now should be exposed to what is happening to them. Almost like they are having their rights being striped away and this video is their last chance at saviour.

But whether or not you choose to dissect the movie for themes or if you only want to be entertained (both are fine!) it's still a kick ass film. There are scary moments, some very tense moments and many creepy scenes that are captured on film.

[Rec] makes good use of the POV, using the unseen as a perfect tool for scare tactics. There is a claustrophobic element to the filming as well. The way the shots are framed are so contained and constricted to a small portion of what can actually been seen. And of course, the film uses a lot of darkness. Most evidently in the last minutes of [Rec], while stuck in a room with something that's completely obscene.

As for it's American remake--it isn't bad. But it doesn't do anything new. Essentially, Quarantine is a shot-for-shot remake of its Spanish counterpart, but without the appeal of a leading lady. I would say that it utilizes the scares better. But [Rec] feels more natural, and does not try to play-up the scares. Not necessarily a good thing, depending on what you're looking for. If you choose to watch one, you can't really go wrong. Just keep in mind that Jennifer Carpenter does nowhere near a good job as Manuela Velasco.

This movie seriously gave me nightmares. I wouldn't say the movie is one of the scariest I've seen, but the last moments of the film--with the "thing" in the room. I mean, it's face, just the build of it, it's horribly scary and I remember not being able to forget it.

[Rec] is a great addition to the zombie genre. Using atmosphere and gore to achieve it's scares. 8/10 for a very brisk, and very effective horror film.