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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

MOVIE REVIEW: [REC] ²

ON VIDEO

[REC] 2



Picking up just a few short minutes after the first film left off, Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza's adrenalized action horror sequel follows a heavily armed SWAT team and a tight-lipped medical officer as they venture into the quarantined tenement building to uncover the origins of the bizarre outbreak. Their helmet-mounted cameras capturing every nerve-shredding moment of the mission, the team must fight for their lives when they're beset by rampaging victims of the demonic virus. Now, with each new attack, the infection grows, and the horde gains power. Should the virus somehow manage to spread outside, the result would be a disaster of apocalyptic proportions. But there's still hope; the medical officer seems to know something about this infection that he hasn't yet shared with the others. Somewhere in the building, an antidote to the virus waits to be discovered. But in order to find it, these terrified soldiers will have to fight their way through a true hell on Earth. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Directors: Paco Plaza, Jaume Balagueró

Cast: Jonathan Mellor, Ariel Casas, Alejandro Casaseca, Pablo Rosso, Manuela Velasco

Release Date: Jul 09, 2010

Rated R for Strong bloody violence, disturbing images and pervasive language

Runtime: 1 hr. 25 min.

Genres: Drama, Horror, Suspense/Thriller

REVIEW:

Jaume Balaguer and Paco Plaza's follow up to their dizzyingly wonderful first person zombie film [REC] is more a continuation than a straight up sequel. Picking up just moments after the first one ends, the directors continue the look and film of the first, via a SWAT team this go around with helmet cams. The multi camera aspect presented this go around is effective in giving the audience a different perspective during action sequences that get you even more close and personal during some of the encounters, it’s a great effect even if it feels like a video game from time to time. The story itself is beefed up, giving us more information on what’s going and what’s caused the whole thing all with a decidedly more religious and supernatural tenor. It works well since it’s something that was hinted at near the end of the original film. A minor issue comes about halfway through the film as the directors decide to stop everything and retrace the steps of another group from the very beginning. It’s not the best decision because it kind of kills the flow of the film. While the entire sequence is interesting there’s only very little of consequence that happens. Once this storyline catches back up it continues it path providing enough scares, thrills and surprises to make any horror fan happy and hoping for a third go around.

B+

11 comments:

  1. Glad you finally got to see it - I love the [REC] films!

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  2. I actually thought they were making more films in the series but I couldn't find anything on imdb. Pity :-(

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  3. Yes I was so happy to finally find a copy of it! I could have sworn there was a third planned by the directors, I could just be making that up though.

    Hope they get a proper bluray release here in the States, only out on DVD for some reason.

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  4. I thought there was a third too but I couldn't find any info on it although I only checked IMDB.

    it's weird how REC2 has taken ages to get a US release and then only on dvd! Odd

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  5. The original one took forever to get here as well and still hasn't had a proper bluray release even though there is on in the UK.

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  6. Lucky you in finding a DVD copy!! I really do want to see this because as a sequel it sounds really good. I've looked around the net and it seems to be a difficult DVD to obtain worldwide, which seems bizarre considering its own sucees and that of Quarantine.

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  7. Think you'd really enjoy it, hopefully someday you'll find a copy. Don't know why it's so bloody hard to find.

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  8. Very good film. I know what you mean on the blu-ray issue. I was not happy that the film along with Quarantine 2 didn't receive the blu-ray treatment. It really bugs me that Sony Home Entertainment doesn't care about putting these direct to video films on Blu-ray, unless its "You got Served 3" or a cuba gooding Jr DTV film.

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  9. I know what you mean Anthony, it's really a travesty that they don't have either of these on bluray, seems like they just don't care to put much effort into horror films.

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  10. Good review! Happy to see this is decent. Will check it out soon.

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  11. I really enjoyed it, first one and this one back to back would make for a perfect night!

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