Short Review: '[REC] 2' (2009)

In 2007, Spanish filmmakers Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza brought to the horror genre arguably the best example of the ‘shaky cam’ film we’ve seen to date. Tremendously claustrophobic, brutally violent and hyper-realistic in every way imaginable, [REC] won over not only horror fans but film critics as well, proving popular and renowned enough to launch an almost immediate Hollywood remake in the form of Quarantine the following year – a surprisingly solid film in its own right.

Suffice to say the more-than-a-little eagerly awaited [REC] 2 had quite a lot to live up to, at least from a fan perspective. Suffering the same miserable fate as its predecessor with a direct-to-video shelving (such a crime!), this more than worthy follow up delivers not only on the visceral energy of the first film but also takes its story into areas much darker and more challenging than one might expect, resulting in an intensely rewarding experience potent enough to stay with you for several days after watching.

Literally picking up 15 minutes after the closing events of the first film, [REC] 2 opens with a SWAT team - accompanied by a doctor - as they prepare to enter the same quarantined apartment building after an unexplained outbreak of violent attacks was perpetrated upon its tenants. They soon learn that the virus travels through human blood, not the air as initially thought, and quickly set about to create a vaccine using uninfected plasma. It turns out, however, the group’s supposed medical practitioner is actually a priest who, unbeknownst to his armed protectors, believes the epidemic to be far more serious than expected and that the building’s occupants are in fact ‘possessed’ by a demon...

By comparison, [REC] 2 is dynamically richer than its predecessor, due in no small part to the substitution of law enforcement operatives in place of a television news crew. The investigation into the contagion is arguably more aggressive as we follow the strike team through a chamber of horrors so ferocious that any dank corner or darkened crevice is likely home to a lurking threat unafraid to jump right out and latch onto the jugular as if it were candy. The first-person aesthetic of the original is also amplified by giving the SWAT team the capability of switching between video feeds, so that no matter where they are in the building they can easily tune in to see what they’re teammates are up to, thus instantaneously transporting the audience to the most relevant action taking place. It’s a neat addition to the storytelling and further enhances the possibilities for generating suspense.

Another admirable aspect of the sequel is the realistic approach with which the characters question the story’s venture into the supernatural. When it is suggested that the cause of the infection may be demonic in nature, the SWAT team never for a second accept the claim without first subjecting the priest to serious scrutiny, allowing for an easier reception of the notion on the viewer's behalf. Balaguero and Plaza could just as easily have undermined their audience’s intelligence by crudely tacking on such a development, thus running the risk of loosing them to implausibility. Thankfully, however the duo strive in every way to make the scenario as convincing as possible and the movie benefits greatly as a result.

As before, the performances here are all top notch and the action sequences beautifully choreographed and paced. The minimal use of music is also nothing short of a wise choice, positioning the rich sound design at the heart of the mayhem to allow for maximum effect and rustling of the nerves. In many ways it seemed like an impossible task but this is one of those rare follow-ups (and soon to be part 2 of 3) that actually manages to equal its forbearer. Rest assured, if you liked what you got from [REC] then [REC] 2 will at the very least have you grinning from ear to ear in devilish delight by the time the final camera lens is smashed to smithereens.



Dir: Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza
Writers: Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza and Diez
Cast: Jonathan Mellor, Oscar Zafra, Ariel Casas, Alejandro Casaseca
Country: Spain
Run Time: 85mina
Rating: MA15+