Rated R for strong bloody violence, disturbing images and pervasive language.
Running time: 85 minutes
Directed by: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza
Starring: Jonathan Mellor, Manuela Velasco, Óscar Zafra, Ariel Casas, Alejandro Casaseca
If you are a horror fan, you probably already know the pleasures to be found in Paco Plaza’s and Jaume Balaguero’s outbreak thriller [REC]. The Spanish-language film took the concept of a zombie infection, ran it through the lens of a first-person, hand-held camera and then unleashed a ghoulish parade of prickly, low-budget thrills. It was the movie Diary of the Dead wanted so badly to be; the chilling, ground level document of an epic event with an emphasis on sympathetic, unlikely characters. Last year, it was translated, rather clumsily, into the American flick Quarantine. That film, like the aforementioned Diary, failed to really humanize the people at the heart of the event.
Now, [REC] 2 has arrived, brought to us by the same directors, and the question is, have they managed to capture what was so compelling about the original film? The answer is yes, and no. At any rate, [REC] 2 is an intense, exhilarating cinematic ride and one highly recommended for fans of horror or zombie flicks. What works in its favor is the choice to immediately follow up the events of the original with two new groups of characters, and then intertwine those stories throughout. The tenement building that served as ground zero for what appeared to be a zombie infection is again the film’s dark, menacing setting, and the action begins with a ready-for-bear SWAT team heading into the now sealed off apartment with a medical officer in tow.
What they discover inside is both exactly what we expect and thematically fresh from other, similar exercises in the subgenre of the zombie film. At the close of the first, there was a suggestion made that the cause and course of the infection was more supernatural as opposed to viral. [REC] 2 follows up that tantalizing concept with a real game-changer for the occupants of the building; how does one stave off an epidemic triggered by something outside the bounds of modern medicine, or in fact, natural biology?
Balaguero and Plaza don’t even hold to the same slowly-building horror format of their initial work, instead transforming the setting and their antagonists into something better suited for an edge-of-your-seat action picture, populated with endless jump scares, twisting of narrative perspective and as many nightmarish death scenes as possible.
Visually, this is a sharper, clearer picture than the first and there’s something a bit more theatrical about its set pieces and stylistic flourishes. There was a shabby, improvised feel to the original [REC] that helped ground its shivery scenario. But this time out, the boys have seemingly jumped genres; there’s a slick and relentless nature grafted onto the infected. As the script begins to rethink their behaviour and genesis, their attack and appearance grow increasingly more fearsome and crazed. When the SWAT team encounters them, the shaky, haphazard style of the camera subtly shifts to a canny observer of carnage. The transition is nearly seamless, and the only calling card of the technique is found in the chills up your arm, or that thrill jolting through your system.
The weakness that prevents [REC] 2 from becoming the equal of its predecessor is in the area of character development. First time around, the slow escalation of events allowed the audience to understand and empathize with the survivors, so by the time the dark frenzy of the later sections arrived, there was a significant investment. Here, by amplifying the threat and jumping right into the action, there’s no time to get to know or relate to the new group. In fact, just as we are getting used to the SWAT team, the picture throws another curve ball and begins again with a set of teens who have wandered into the building via the sewers. They were decoration in the first half, and then are suddenly cast as the protagonists in the second. It’s clever, but works against the need for well realized characterization.
It was never going to be easy to balance the new pacing and focus with the strong characters. Here, the people get sacrificed—in more ways than one—although Balaguero and Plaza have taken this into consideration and actually shrink the focus and scope of their ambitions. [REC] 2 is pared down to the point where it’s as lean and mean as a traditional survival horror could be. There are few let-ups between attacks and revelation, and each sequence is tied so precisely to the next that they form an ever-coiling spring of suspense.
I walked out of [REC] 2 reminded of the potential for horror to actually provide scares and anxiety without resorting to gutter-level shock tactics. Like the film it follows, this is one thrill ride worth taking a second time.
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Mob Recommened
[Rec] was one of my favourite horror films of the last decade. I’m glad this one is living up to expectation…I will be seeing it. Good review Bartleby.
Dan recently posted..Three premieres as BBC Films finds new home
Before hearing all of the buzz for [Rec] 2 I had not heard of these films. I have seen Quaruntine. Is the original film available on DVD or are they both on DVD now?
I actually haven’t seen Quarantine but I think it is a very close remake of the Spanish original…at least that’s what I gather from reviews. As far as I know they are both available on DVD – the UK single-disk version is very cheap.
Dan recently posted..Top10Films Presents Classics Scenes 4
Agree with Dan, [REC] was awesome. Great to hear this carries the momentum. I haven’t seen this sequel yet but I love the fact that it takes place right on the heels of 1. I heard they’ve got 3 and 4 in the pipeline. Wonder how those will fare…
Marc recently posted..FourScore- “Have Guns- Will Travel”
Wow, a sequel that was actually good, and more revolting (in all the right ways of course) than the original? I’ve yet to see the original, but it’s come highly recommended. Gonna definitely have to check it out.
WEB SHERIFF
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Hi Bartleby,
On behalf of Magnolia Pictures and the movie’s producers, many thanks for plugging “[REC] 2″ … .. and if you / your readers want good quality, non-pirated, previews, then the official trailer for “[REC] 2” is available for fans and bloggers to post/ host / share etc at http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/rec2/... .. for further details of on-line promotions for this movie and Magnolia releases generally, check-out http://www.magpictures.com and their YouTube channel at .
Thanks again for your plug.
Regards,
WEB SHERIFF
I thought this was a good film. I kinda wished they wouldn’t have ANOTHER cliffhanger (how long are they staying in that house?) but I did think it was good. I thought Quarantine was good as well and I’m glad Quarantine 2 is taking a different direction and not stepping on the toes of this series by just being shot for shot remakes.
Travis McCollum recently posted..
How come for sequels in these movies, they always go the military route?
Kai B. Parker recently posted..THE HAPPY 101 AWARD
Although movie is near-perfect, it is a tribute to Portman that she outshines all others as the frail, brittle ballerina that is gradually burning off it.