Day 11: [REC] (2007)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 11: [REC] (2007)

Written and directed by Spanish duo Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza, [REC] was an immediate hit on the horror film festival, and it also happened to be released the same year as Oren Peli's "Paranormal Activity".

While both were solid examples of the "found footage" film genre, I chose to focus on this Spanish-language original because it felt somewhat more organic.  "Paranormal Activity" was a well done movie, but I always had an issue with the logistics behind the cameras being there.

With "[REC]", the cameras are in place due to a much out-of-their-league news crew who begins the film doing an "after dark" profile with the local fire station.  It isn't long before the entire night, and story, spirals far out of control.

The inherent flaw that is in place with all films of this nature still exists.  Why the hell would the camera operator not just ditch the camera and get the hell out of Dodge, and bring any of the potential survivors with them?

What saves this movie, and to be honest it's a solid effort through and through, is the consistent build up of tension as the night rapidly spirals out of control and the reality of the situation is eventually made clear.

The movie was remade as "Quarantine" the following year with an American cast that included Jennifer Carpenter (who has also done excellent work in "The Exorcism Of Emily Rose" and Showtime's "Dexter" in the role of the lead reporter.  It was a decent remake, but in this case you would be well-suited with the original.

Tomorrow I hope to go a little brain dead with one of the first movies that was done by one of the first lords of Nerdom.  See you then!