Quarantine

"Quarantine" (2008, John Erick Dowdle, Screen Gems, Vertigo Entertainment, Andale Pictures) is the American remake of 2007's found footage film, "REC".


Duplicating the story, we follow Angela (Jennifer Carpenter) and her crew who are filming a documentary about the lives of a Fire Crew for their news station. When they get a call out, Angela and her camera man tag along, excited to get some action on film. They are called to an apartment building which has been locked down with everyone inside, due to the unusual behaviour of one of the tenants which is suspected to be some kind of virus. The Fire Crew and Camera Crew enter, along with some police but soon find themselves also locked in the building as it is quarantined to contain whatever the hell is going on in there. Soon they are all fighting for survival amongst a horde of infected friends and neighbours... while being sniped down from the outside, barring any hope of escape...


An unnecessary remake that didn't do much other than recreate the original concept scene for scene but in English. The film does have some great effects (that ankle scene) and Carpenter gives an amicable performance as our some-parts terrified, some-parts sassy protagonist.


All in all, the film is well made and enjoyable, but I'd be more inclined to watch Rec above it if given the choice.

[Image: Screen Gems]

Hani

REC

"REC" (2007, Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza, Filmax International) is a Spanish 'found footage' zombie-esque horror.

Ángela Vida (Manuela Velasco) is a TV reporter for a local show in Barcelona called "While You're Asleep". She and her cameraman, Pablo (Pablo Rosso), are following the local Fire Crew for the night. The first segment of the film primarily consists of her interviewing firemen and complaining about how boring it is, and how she'd like an emergency call to come in. Lucky her, one does!

They set off with firemen Manu (Ferrán Terraza) & Álex (David Vert) to the house where an old woman has become extremely aggressive and the police have shut down the building with all other tenants trapped inside. The crew enter along with a couple of policemen, an officer (Vicente Gil) and a younger cop (Jorge-Yaman Serrano). It soon becomes apparent, however, that even the policemen aren't completely aware of the situation.

When they try to confront the woman she attacks them, and we delve into a zombie house of horrors.

While the story itself isn't anything new, the confined space of the building, excellent shaky-cam work and disjointed filming work really well. A lot of the jumps happen in the dark when either the camera comes back on just in time of an oogie-boogie moment, or when Pablo sticks on the nightvision, showing us the full grotesque image of the creatures.

I'm not usually a found footage fan, but 'REC' really kicks the action up a notch and makes for quite a thrilling ride! The ending is also very effective and leaves the audience wanting more. Just remember, it's in Spanish so expect to have to read some subtitles!

[Image: Filmax International]

 

Hani