Dear Escapists, if you enjoy a good scary movie every now and then, then you might find this new series of reviews interesting. Every week, I'll be recommending a movie of this genre that I consider worth watching. I'll mostly be reviewing movies that are relatively unknown, not because I'm a hipster, but because the main point of these reviews is to have people pleasantly surprised by something that there's a high chance they've never heard of before. Why does my opinion matter? Well, I'm a 28 year old guy who has been an avid fan of the genre since my early teens, so if anything, through hundreds of viewings, I believe that I have at least developed a pretty clear sense of what's shit. And the movies I'll be mentioning here aren't.
On to this week's movie!
[Rec] is a Spanish film from 2007 directed by Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza. At first glance, there are many reasons why one would be reluctant to watch this film. First person "shakycam" cinematography and zombies are elements that most horror fans have grown sick and tired of due to overuse (and abuse) during the last few years. As many others I'm sure, I started watching this fully prepared for some hardcore eyerolling.
The starting moments of the film didn't do much to change my mind and were rather boring. The main protagonists, a female reporter and a cameraman, are shooting a documentary on the lives of firemen, when the station gets a call for help. An old woman has been heard screaming and her neighbours believe she might be hurt. The firemen, accompanied by the reporter and cameraman, are sent to the apartment complex to investigate.
This is the point where the movie picks up the pace... and it never stops. There's no denying that first person camera is a powerful way to communicate panic, tension and confusion to the viewers, and the directors of [Rec] have used this to the absolute maximum. Tension is the main element here. The initial buildup leads to an evergrowing explosion of claustrophobia, panic and horror. During the last 40 minutes of the film, you will be struggling to catch your breath, as it turns into a rollercoaster that stubbornly refuses to pause and allow you to relax for a moment and reflect on what's happening.
And then there's the ending, that annoying little thing that most horror movies seem to unintentionally fuck up. Well, there's no fucking up here. The directors masterfully play with darkness, light, night vision and creepy imagery and manage to deliver a brilliant punch-in-the-gut farewell, a dynamite sequence reminiscent of Japanese horror, Blair Witch Project, Silence of the Lambs and the Exorcist that feels really satisfying.
Fully realising the weight of my statement, I have to say that in my opinion [Rec] is the best zombie movie of the last 15 years. It manages to completely sidestep the landmines of its themes and deliver an experience that is in equal parts scary and exhilarating. It doesn't overuse its tools, it doesn't exaggerate, it doesn't falter, it doesn't try to mock its material and it doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. If you haven't seen it, you are missing out.
P.S: Any comments or suggestions regarding the review, my writing style or the movie itself are more than welcome! Thank you for your time!
On to this week's movie!
[Rec] is a Spanish film from 2007 directed by Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza. At first glance, there are many reasons why one would be reluctant to watch this film. First person "shakycam" cinematography and zombies are elements that most horror fans have grown sick and tired of due to overuse (and abuse) during the last few years. As many others I'm sure, I started watching this fully prepared for some hardcore eyerolling.
The starting moments of the film didn't do much to change my mind and were rather boring. The main protagonists, a female reporter and a cameraman, are shooting a documentary on the lives of firemen, when the station gets a call for help. An old woman has been heard screaming and her neighbours believe she might be hurt. The firemen, accompanied by the reporter and cameraman, are sent to the apartment complex to investigate.
This is the point where the movie picks up the pace... and it never stops. There's no denying that first person camera is a powerful way to communicate panic, tension and confusion to the viewers, and the directors of [Rec] have used this to the absolute maximum. Tension is the main element here. The initial buildup leads to an evergrowing explosion of claustrophobia, panic and horror. During the last 40 minutes of the film, you will be struggling to catch your breath, as it turns into a rollercoaster that stubbornly refuses to pause and allow you to relax for a moment and reflect on what's happening.
And then there's the ending, that annoying little thing that most horror movies seem to unintentionally fuck up. Well, there's no fucking up here. The directors masterfully play with darkness, light, night vision and creepy imagery and manage to deliver a brilliant punch-in-the-gut farewell, a dynamite sequence reminiscent of Japanese horror, Blair Witch Project, Silence of the Lambs and the Exorcist that feels really satisfying.
Fully realising the weight of my statement, I have to say that in my opinion [Rec] is the best zombie movie of the last 15 years. It manages to completely sidestep the landmines of its themes and deliver an experience that is in equal parts scary and exhilarating. It doesn't overuse its tools, it doesn't exaggerate, it doesn't falter, it doesn't try to mock its material and it doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. If you haven't seen it, you are missing out.
P.S: Any comments or suggestions regarding the review, my writing style or the movie itself are more than welcome! Thank you for your time!
