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Quint at Fantastic Fest thinks REC 2 is a creepy, fun and just plain awesome rollercoaster ride of a sequel!
SPOILER ALERT !!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with my thoughts on REC 2 or [rec] squared or however you type it.
I’m a big, big, big fan of the first REC. It gets the award for best use of the “recorded footage” off-shoot genre of horror. REC 2 is the rare sequel to not only live up to the first film, but expand the mythology in a satisfying way.
Picking up where the first film left off, REC 2 follows a swat squad into the building. The film quite literally takes place in the moments after the original ended. In fact, I think there’s an overlap if you lay the timelines side by side.
The SWAT guys are protecting a medical officer whose mission it is to gather data on the contamination, which gives us a good reason to have one of them holding a camera… Also, they ALIENS it up a bit, giving each SWAT member a camera on their helmets.
I’m not going to spoil any huge moments in the movie, but I am going to discuss the flick a bit more in-depth than I’m comfortable doing without a warning of spoilers beforehand. If you don’t know what Rec is, hopefully you didn’t see the tamer, crappier American remake QUARANTINE, so it can still kick your ass. Netflix it, rent it, buy it… watch it and you will understand my enthusiasm for it. And then know that the sequel doesn’t focus on building terror like the original, but it’s more of a rollercoaster ride. Just as awesome, just in a different way.
Now if you want to know a little more, feel free to read on.
Here’s some things you’ll see in this movie: the best undead ass-kicking priest since BRAINDEAD (or DEAD ALIVE for us Americans), the creepiest evil monster children since Reagan in THE EXORCIST and the best use of a bottle rocket I’ve ever seen in a movie.
Writer/directors Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza expand on the religious implications of their mythology, which I really enjoyed. By doing so, they take REC out of the realm of zombies and into a great horror subgenre that isn’t exploited as well as it should be: demonic possession. And there’s nothing better than demon kids, especially the way they handle them here. I won’t go into detail about them, but I can guarantee at least one, if not multiple, “fuck that” thoughts running through your head during this film. For example:
Yes, there are faults, as there are in most films. The movie hits a bit of a speedbump when we’re introduced to a second group that snuck into the building, teenagers that just happen to have a small video camera. Luckily the acting is good with this bunch and their inclusion in the story is paid off in spades.
The other thing that could give you pause is that a video camera always happens to show up when we need it to finish out the story this movie’s telling. It happens not just once, but twice. Convenient? Yes. But fuck it. The movie’s so entertaining I gave it a lot of rope.
I would have preferred Balaguero and Plaza try to figure out how to do the whole thing with the cameras mounted on the soldiers’ helmets as that makes so much more sense than one of them carrying a big, spiffy HD camera around on their shoulder during all the crazy shit. That would make it easier to swallow the premise, but the execution is what really matters and they made a flick so fun, creepy and energetic that if you can’t just go with it, let the story unfold, then you’re not ever going to get it. All the nitpicks I have are just that. None of them derail the film.
The easiest analogy is that Rec 2 is to Rec as Aliens is Alien. I’ve heard it put that way a good half-dozen times already at Fantastic Fest and I’m sure you’ll hear it a ton more before this film sees any kind of release stateside. It might be easy, but it’s also true and the very best movie geek example to instantly put you in the right mindset for this movie.
I had a blast with it and can’t recommend it enough if you get a chance to see it.
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
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now can we get a report on Polanski please?
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The more ppl talk about it, the better it's sounding. No telling when we'll get a proper release though, REC took forever!!
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That's the only thing I want to know. They've got my money already.
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Anyone know if this is going to be released theatrically in the UK?
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...actually GOOD news.Wish I knew what that poster's tagline says, but I don't know Spanish...
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Looks good!! Horraayyy for (good) low budget horror/sci-fi!!
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That this movie is to Rec what Aliens was to Alien....
Am I the first person to say that? -
As long as it's not 28 days later to 28 days.
What happened to Sandy Bollocks???? -
...loved the first one. Eating up every bit of good news about 2.
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for all you yanks that have trouble reading subtitles or watching films not made in hollywood in general
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Hopefully we'll get an announcement on here whenever this bad boy hits DVD in the UK... since I'm pretty sure it won't get released here in the US until after a silly remake is made. They don't have any fests in my town that would show it either.
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do you really want to know??
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Hey Fantastic Festers! Whay has no one mentioned the Vampire's Assistent screening the other day? how was it, and how did the screening go? I heard John C Reiley was there... was there a Q&A? thoughts? Harry, Quint? Bueler?
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'Dare to Return'
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Sep 30, 2009 8:55:37 AM CDT
I was VERY surprised it wasn't in the top 5 at Fantastic Fest...
by ed2d2
I think maybe not enough people saw it that first night since everyone was going for Paranormal Activity instead. That's the only reason I can come up with that it didn't even rank in the top 5 for Audience Choice Award. This movie fucked my shit up bad. It was a freaky movie to see before you only get 3 hours of sleep. Now if only someone can convince Tim at the Alamo to do a REC/REC 2 double feature movie night!
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It's almost a shot for shot remake, with the only difference being it's in English. I liked them both (but I also have a crush on Jennnifer Carpenter).
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Sep 30, 2009 9:01:23 AM CDT
I still wonder if the "Aliens to Alien" comparison really means.
by gettingbannedisfun
...it's less scary but has more (great executed) action.
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Where am de links? Sorry, but this is an emergency.
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The sequel sounds awesome. Alien/Aliens one two punch comparisons are making me hard!
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.. how was "House of the Devil"?
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I want to seeeeeeeeeeeee
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Has AICN had a trailer link up? Don't recall seeing one. By the way, I don't necessarily agree that it's such a speedbump these days anyone happening to have a video camera with them. I (and most people I know) have one in my pocket everywhere I go - in my cell phone.
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.. I usually try to keep the Vado pretty handy. However, if a possessed maniac comes my way I'm dropping that sumbitch and hauling ass!
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Do you dare to come back?
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Where were the reviews for Gamer, Surrogates and Pandorum on this site?
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That poor kid.
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Naturally both would be scary, but you also have to consider the audience. If your audience is more apt to be religious and heavily believe in things like demonic possession, etc, then the demon angle is effective. If your audience is more apt to be phobic of genetic tinkering/viral research + a religious extremist behind it (ie, terrorists with super rabies virus!), then that angle is more terrifying. I think it just comes down to what the audience finds "real": Demons or a virus. Most Americans are probably going to fall into the "omg! Super rabies!! omg deadly virus!!!" fear, thus why that angle was focused on. In the end, that's why I think zombie films work in terms of fear...they are basically a physical and visible representation of a plague/outbreak/viral pandemic, where your neighbors and fellow citizens become carriers and thus threats (although in a zombie film they are more apt to bite then sneeze without covering their mouth+nose)
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Sep 30, 2009 11:55:55 AM CDT
Will we EVER get a Pandorum review here?
by christian_bale_trashed_my_lights
I agree with Mr. FTW!Still, looking forward to this movie a fucking lot. REC + SWAT Team can only mean good things ahead.
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Of course.
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she is alive although one wonders how and even why.....but all is explained. -
The first movie has nothign to do with demonic possession, it's a virus. That's why the remake is called "Quarentine".I guess I'm not totally against changing the premise, but demonic possession turns a taught thriller into a silly B-movie.
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Fett, did you pay attention to all the stuff they were reading at the end of the movie? It was obvious that it revealed that the problem stemmed from a demonic possession that spread virally.
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The remake has to do with a virus. In REC, the assumption is that it's some sort of virus, but the sequence at the end in the really creepy apartment reveals that there's something more supernatural going on.
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Quarantine was Rec shot-for-shot, differing only in the last few minutes mainly in set design only. Thats what I love about the both of themI dont think there could be that sort of play in the sequel for an american remake to continue the viral as opposed to demonic aspect.Totally expect the building to go all Fulci and be a doorway to hell.
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The original was based on the assumption the girl was possessed, hence the Vatican agent kidnapping her and testing her. I read spanish but all the newspaper articles in the spanish version referenced demonic possession. The tape recorded message mentioned enzymes and something becoming contagious. The American remake had articles on a doomsday cult stealing stuff from labs for a doomsday virus type thing.
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...i meant i DON'T read spanish.
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Just because the newspapers mention demonic possession it doesn't MEAN that's what it is in the movie. If you were in a highly religious society (read: doesn't use common sense), you may interpret that as demonic possession. But it sounds like it was still a virus in part 1
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Vampires, werewolves and zombies: All spreading viruses via blood or saliva, all supernatural.
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If I spelled that right, anyways I didn't think it was horrible. Guess thats what I get for watching it and not seeing the original.
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Because I thought it was clearly a virus. If they are actually turning it into demonic fucking possession and people's heads are going to start spinning around and target vomitting pea soup, then no fucking thank you.
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