Chad

Trevor

Thanks for choosing this Coyoteblue. My favorite surprise of 2007, and so much better than the American remake.

Watching it right now, still jumping at the "oh crap" moments and truly enjoying all parts of it so far.

rbrown498

I've seen [●REC] three or four times now, and it never fails to unnerve me. It's not that it really does anything new--the "found-footage" aspect of the film was already old hat by the time this film was made (thanks mainly to The Blair Witch Project), the "rage zombie" had been introduced in 28 Days Later, the night-vision photography had been done in The Silence of the Lambs...but the combination of all these influences (along with nods to Night of the Living Dead, The Evil Dead, and even The Exorcist) makes for a very potent horror film. Part of the reason for the film's success is that it takes great care to ground the film in everyday reality before the weird stuff starts happening. I don't think the film would have been nearly as effective without the first ten minutes showing the fire station's normal routine. This ten minutes also gives us time to get to know and care about Angela, the reporter. Once the film kicks into gear, we're on her side, and don't want any harm to come to her. There are at least three tremendous jump scares, and even though I know they're coming, they get me every time. [●REC] is easily one of my favorite horror films of the last decade.

SethDLH

Won't be watching it today since I just watched the sequel yesterday but it is a fantastic film. One of the 3 or 4 best horror films of the 00s. I can't wait for the 3rd.

Trevor

How was the sequel? Somehow I've never seen it, iirc.

SethDLH

I liked it a lot but not quite as much as the first. It was scary and fun like the first but a lot of times tension was replaced for action, which I think hurt it a little. There were also a few characters I found annoying. This sounds like I didn't like it haha but I'd give it 8.5/10. Really good follow up.

takingchase

Every time I watch a movie I initially loved I'm always afraid to revisit it in case that spark doesn't strike again. After watched [REC] again today I can say that won't ever be a problem with this movie. I agree that it doesn't really do anything new but it's just a wonderful example of everything being done right. I'm looking forward to seeing the sequel now and I think I'll check out the remakes just to see how they compare.

shellebelle

First time I've seen this movie. And I must say...It rocked. There were quite a few times where I jumped. Totally enjoyed it. Thanks for recommending it Coyoteblue. Now I can't wait to see the sequel.

tarfrimmer

That was my morning today. [REC] & [REC]2, followed by Quarantine & Quarantine 2. Much prefer the Spanish films.

This was my 3rd viewing of [REC] and even knowing what's coming, even sitting there thinking "it's coming, it's coming, it's coming," that scene when the camera guy is looking up in the attic still makes me jump. I can only think of one other movie moment (in Jaws) that has that effect on me no matter how many times I see it. Love that!

I thought the sequel was quite good, as well. Not as solid as this one, but still quite enjoyable.

coyoteblue

What are the thoughts on that stuff at the end; the penthouse? Some sort of Church sanctioned research into curing the 'possession' disease? Or was the guy, whoever he was, a rogue? And of course, just how did the authorities know that the building had to be sealed and quarantined?

rbrown498

The explanation given in the film is that Max, the little girl's dog, attacked all the other animals at the vet's, and that they'd never seen anything like that before. So they found the address of the dog's owner and (we can assume) called the CDC (or whatever Spain's version is) to look into it. I'm assuming that it was the CDC that decided to seal off the building.

This is (maybe THE) one instance where the remake did something better--it was explained in Quarantine that after Max attacked all of the other animals at the clinic, within an hour they were all behaving in the same manner. To me, that gives much more credence to the necessity of sealing off the building.

Undeadcow

This one does hold up well on multiple viewings. I wasn't planning on it but now feel compelled to go rent [Rec] 2 and Quarantine 2.

terrycloth

Im a fan of rec and well the remake and both have theyre positives.

someone else mentioned it in the main thread but all the pre infection scenes bored the hell out of me and made me dislike the reporter I much prefered the opening scenes in the remake just were more humorous imo.

i still enjoyed rewatching it but i think it hurt that i just watched the remake last month.

Trevor

Yep. Probably my third or fourth time seeing it as well, and I still jumped at all the scares. I agree, not too much was completely original, but just a well done film in all respects. I really get immersed in this one, immediately identifying with and caring for pretty much all the building occupants.

Can't wait to share this with my soon-to-be stepdaughter when she gets a little older.

Jaws is my favorite film Tarf. You're referring to the underwater scene at Ben's boat, right?
I think it was the main thread where someone recently mentioned Redbox stocks the sequel. I'll have to look for it.
Yep, my opinions as well. In the original, I just inferred what the remake clarified a bit. American films tend to spell everything out.

Darkgod

I am one of those who likes both Rec and Quarantine, but think Rec is vastly superior. If you get the chance, watch REC2 because it explains a lot of the things going on in REC and has a nice twist ending.

tarfrimmer

Aye, that'd be the one. I can't even begin to count the number of times that part has made me jump over the decades.

I like Quarantine, as well, but I do like the reporter much better in [REC]. I think the actress/character comes off much warmer. Plus, I think the original really benefits from the use of improvisation with the actors.

Interesting interview with Jaume Balagueró here.

I'm really curious to see how the next two films turn out, what with the direction the story seems to be heading after [REC]2.

Spiderbite

I saw REC first and Quarantine soon after. Even though Quarantine seemed like an almost shot for shot remake, I came away extremely disappointed and felt that REC was far superior. What's weird is that I couldn't put my finger on exactly why REC is so superior. Don't know if it was because I saw it first or that Q was just missing something. Kinda like Infernal Affairs. I saw it long before The Departed and despised The Departed yet everyone seems to think it is a 5 star movie (I still don't see what everyone sees in it).

I haven't watched it in a year or so but REC was one of those films that stayed with me for several days. I thought it was excellent and one of the least obnoxious "hand-held" films to be released so far.

my rating: ****1/2 out of *****

Trevor

Finally watched the sequel this morning, loved it. Wasn't sure I was going to like the religious angle once they started in that direction, but they did a great job with it imo. Really liked how they connected it into the first film so well, and tied all the stories together.

Continuing in the found footage theme for the day, I'm torturing myself with some Asylum films. I always finish a film once I start it, but oh how I wish I could had hit eject with Monster.

Undeadcow

[Rec]2 is an intense followup. The religious tone established in the first seemed like a wild bend but like Trevor said they pulled it off very well. Not as strong as the first due to what seemed to me an awkward plot point at the end but was a very nice complement to this.

Mild sequel spoiler: