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[REC] - REVIEW

[REC] ( Spanish , 2007 )

Director : Jaume Balaguero , Paco Plaza


A TV crew follows a Firefighting Team , to record their activities , when a call is made to rescue an old lady who is stuck in an apartment. This is the basic plot. Big deal , eh ? Believe me folks , you are in for a surprise , and a nasty one at that.

Another Spanish movie review , [REC] reaffirms my devotion to foreign cinema.

The movie covers incidents which unfold on a night , when a Fire Service Team is called to rescue an old lady , and help her out of her apartment. The visuals are through the camera of a TV crew , consisting of Angela Vidal the reporter and Pablo the cameraman. The crew is recording the event for a show called " While you were sleeping". What appears to be a normal call for rescue , eventually transforms into one of the most horrifying movies I have ever seen.

As the team reaches the apartment , they realize that this is no normal lady. What happens later , will not be revealed in this review , as I don't want to spoil the suspense for you people.

There are enough chills and thrills to keep you glued to your seats. The horror is definitely bloody good , literally. Blood and gore are widely used , but in a sensible manner. The movie could have been yet another ordinary Horror film , but thankfully it does make much more sense than the usual blood spilling stuff , which we have to put up with in the name of Horror/Thriller movies.

The movie is shot in the most realistic manner possible. The portrayal of human emotions has to be appreciated. The residents of the building are locked up , owing to certain reasons. So expect a lot of arguments and fussing. And when horrible incidents are taking place , people are more interested in being on TV.

There is no main character as such , as it is shot in a documentary style , but in a very different manner. Pablo's camera can be termed as the protagonist , as the entire story unfolds through his lens.

This is definitely an intense thriller. You are always on the edge of your seats , thanks to some really nervous situations , which the camera records. I knew that something would happen in certain scenes and in such cases I normally don't get scared when that thing actually happens.. But for some reason , even though you know when and where exactly the Director is going to attempt spooking you , you fall for it eventually.

Events unfold in such a fast manner that you never even think about keeping track of time. Easily the most effective screenplay , among the many Horror/Thriller movies I have come across.

The movie will be a feast for fans of the Horror/Thriller genre. However , this is not for the weak hearted. There are some really gory scenes , and if you are the squirmy type , you would think twice before watching it. And despite my warning , if you decide to watch it , please do so on an empty stomach. I hope you get the hint.

Yes , blood and gore are quite prominent . But very different from other Horror movies , where the makers try to scare you with excessive gore. Here it is more the tense situations and fear of the known , rather than the unknown which scare you.

The bulk of the story is set within the confines of a building , and believe me , you will not forget the building for a long time.


I am always in search of a Horror film , which will keep me so involved in the events which unfold , and manage to scare me. This one did not really scare me , except in a few sequences , but the thrill of watching it , in the middle of the night , was a rewarding experience.

The only hint I am dropping is this one ---> If you loved "28 Days Later" , the British Thriller which came out in 2002 , you will definitely like this one , as the concept is very similar. I strongly recommend this movie , especially if you are a fan of the Horror genre. And even though many people don't really like watching non-English films , I sincerely advise you to make an exception , as far as [REC] is concerned. Fear is Universal , don't you reckon ?

I normally detest blood and gore in Horror movies , but this one makes a lot of sense ,thankfully. I will go with 4 out of 5 , and a HUGE thumbs up , for [REC] , which is one of the very few exceptionally good Horror movies I have come across. Grab a "bite" of this one !!!

VERDICT : Brilliant Thriller ( 4 / 5)