Rec (film)

[REC]
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Jaume Balagueró Paco Plaza
Written by	Jaume Balagueró
Produced by	Julio Fernández
Starring	Manuela Velasco Javier Botet Manuel Bronchud Martha Carbonell Claudia Font Vicente Gil
Distributed by	Filmax
Release dates	Italy: Spain: November 23, 2007 United Kingdom: April 11, 2008
Running time	85 min.
Country	Spain
Language	Spanish

REC (or [●REC]) is a 2007 horror film co-directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza. The film was released in Spain in November 2007. Balaguero and Plaza previously co-directed the 2002 documentary OT, The Movie. The camerawork and basic concept is familiar to The Blair Witch Project in that it's recorded entirely on "amateur" camera, where the cameraman is also just a character in the story. The film name, derived from the blinking text showing that the camera is recording, underlines the idea.

The film features three trailers so far, and while two seem to be standard footage from the movie , the last one is peculiar in a way that it doesn't show the movie, but the terrified audience at the premiere in night vision.

The film's UK release began with limited screenings on April 8th, 2008, going wide on April 11th, 2008.

Synopsis

REC revolves around a television reporter, Ángela, and her cameraman, Pablo, who cover the night shift in one of Barcelona's local fire stations. The firehouse receives a call from an old lady trapped in her house. When they arrive, and the firemen and the police break down the door, the old lady suddenly attacks and bites one of the policemen, and it is revealed that an unknown but virulent disease is infecting people, causing them to turn into zombies. The police and the military quarantine the building and the camera crew is trapped inside, constantly recording the mayhem that ensues. By the finale they uncover the horrifying truth of the situation and realise the infection may be more than a mere virus.

Critical reception

The film received very good reviews from critics so far. As of May 4, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 90% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 18 reviews..

It also received a number of awards:

• Fantastic'Arts‎ festival of Gérardmer 2008: Jury Prize, Prize of the young Public, Prize of the Public
• Festival de Cine de Sitges 2007 : Prize of the Public, Critics Prize, Best Director Award, Best Actress Award for Manuela Velasco.

Remake

REC is being remade in the United States with the title Quarantine by director John Erick Dowdle.. The remake is expected to be released October 17, 2008.

External links

• Official site
• REC at IMDb
• Quarantine at IMDb
• REC at Rotten Tomatoes
• Movie review on Orange Film