← Back to Reviews
in
[REC] That Spanish holiday is out of the question now.
In 1978 Italian director Ruggero Deodato pushed the horror envelope to its limits by making the now notorious, 'Cannibal Holocaust'. The film sparked a media furore due to its repellent animal killings, and graphic depiction of rape and mutilation. Some people even believed the films footage to be real. Deodato hadn't made a likable film, but in using documentary style handheld camera techniques, he'd made a damn effective one.
Fast forward twenty years to 1998, and debut directors Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler made the lesser known 'The Last Broadcast' using similar techniques. Due to lack if distribution, the film was hardly seen, and remains a cult obscurity to this day. Someone had seen it though, because a year later 'The Blair Witch Project' exploded onto cinema screens worldwide and was a huge hit, documentary style horror had finally hit the mainstream.
Now in 2008, thirty years after the seminal 'Cannibal Holocaust', three handheld horror films have have hit our theaters, 'Cloverfield', 'Diary Of The Dead', and '[REC]' . Deodato must surely have a wry smile on his face.
'[REC]' is a low budget Spanish film, and was actually the first of these films to be released (2007 in Spain only). I'm not going to speculate who stole who's idea here, as I'm sure 'Cloverfield' and 'Diary Of The Dead' were already in production when '[REC]' hit Spanish cinemas.
The films plot follows a young reporter (Manuela Velasco) and her cameraman as they make a television documentary about the fire brigade. They are soon invited to accompany the firemen on a routine call to an apartment building where an old lady has become trapped in her flat. On their arrival it becomes apparent that things have taken a sinister turn, as the buildings residents have contracted some strange disease.
'[REC]' is not an original film, it's incredibly derivative, of 'Demons 2', and 'Shivers aka They Came From Within'. Plus the infected residents behave like, and bear a striking resemblance to those in '28 Days/Weeks Later'. Some of the scenes in [REC] feel very familiar, I also found myself nitpicking certain plot intricacies (but that's only because I've seen so many similar films). What helps this film transcend it's derivative origins though, is mainly the brilliant performance from the lovely Manuela Velasco, who is very natural and believable. It was also a clever move by the filmmakers making the protagonists TV reporters, not only does this justify them feeling compelled to film the action. But it also means we get a professional in charge of the camera, giving us a less disorientating view of the proceedings (something 'Cloverfield' was criticized for not doing).
Like 'Cloverfield' [REC] is a tightly paced white knuckle ride, with some expertly choreographed shocks. The claustrophobic confines of the apartment block only add to the tense atmosphere, making this a decent little horror film.
All in all this is a solid and effective (if unoriginal) shocker, that at a modest 78 minutes doesn't outstay it's welcome. It's scary, it's gory, and most importantly it's entertaining. Fans of the zombie genre will definitely enjoy this, and shouldn't let the prospect of subtitles put them off.
[REC]
Juame Balaguero & Paco Plaza 2007
Juame Balaguero & Paco Plaza 2007
[REC] That Spanish holiday is out of the question now.
In 1978 Italian director Ruggero Deodato pushed the horror envelope to its limits by making the now notorious, 'Cannibal Holocaust'. The film sparked a media furore due to its repellent animal killings, and graphic depiction of rape and mutilation. Some people even believed the films footage to be real. Deodato hadn't made a likable film, but in using documentary style handheld camera techniques, he'd made a damn effective one.
Fast forward twenty years to 1998, and debut directors Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler made the lesser known 'The Last Broadcast' using similar techniques. Due to lack if distribution, the film was hardly seen, and remains a cult obscurity to this day. Someone had seen it though, because a year later 'The Blair Witch Project' exploded onto cinema screens worldwide and was a huge hit, documentary style horror had finally hit the mainstream.
Now in 2008, thirty years after the seminal 'Cannibal Holocaust', three handheld horror films have have hit our theaters, 'Cloverfield', 'Diary Of The Dead', and '[REC]' . Deodato must surely have a wry smile on his face.
'[REC]' is a low budget Spanish film, and was actually the first of these films to be released (2007 in Spain only). I'm not going to speculate who stole who's idea here, as I'm sure 'Cloverfield' and 'Diary Of The Dead' were already in production when '[REC]' hit Spanish cinemas.
The films plot follows a young reporter (Manuela Velasco) and her cameraman as they make a television documentary about the fire brigade. They are soon invited to accompany the firemen on a routine call to an apartment building where an old lady has become trapped in her flat. On their arrival it becomes apparent that things have taken a sinister turn, as the buildings residents have contracted some strange disease.
'[REC]' is not an original film, it's incredibly derivative, of 'Demons 2', and 'Shivers aka They Came From Within'. Plus the infected residents behave like, and bear a striking resemblance to those in '28 Days/Weeks Later'. Some of the scenes in [REC] feel very familiar, I also found myself nitpicking certain plot intricacies (but that's only because I've seen so many similar films). What helps this film transcend it's derivative origins though, is mainly the brilliant performance from the lovely Manuela Velasco, who is very natural and believable. It was also a clever move by the filmmakers making the protagonists TV reporters, not only does this justify them feeling compelled to film the action. But it also means we get a professional in charge of the camera, giving us a less disorientating view of the proceedings (something 'Cloverfield' was criticized for not doing).
Like 'Cloverfield' [REC] is a tightly paced white knuckle ride, with some expertly choreographed shocks. The claustrophobic confines of the apartment block only add to the tense atmosphere, making this a decent little horror film.
All in all this is a solid and effective (if unoriginal) shocker, that at a modest 78 minutes doesn't outstay it's welcome. It's scary, it's gory, and most importantly it's entertaining. Fans of the zombie genre will definitely enjoy this, and shouldn't let the prospect of subtitles put them off.