Magnolia Pictures has picked up REC 2 for distribution, making plans for a limited theatrical release in the U.S. starting on July 9th. A dvd release will follow.
REC 2 picks up immediately after the events of the original, where a camera crew becomes trapped inside an apartment building with a serious infestation problem. Much like 28 Days Later it’s a zombie film that’s not technically about zombies but the original REC was fantastic, a violent, claustrophobic and freaky experience that showed the Spanish know horror as well as anyone else.
The original of course was already remade with modest commercial success
as Quarantine, so since the source material’s there we’ll see if an
American sequel ever gets made. Not that we need it.
Original writer/director duo Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza returned for REC 2, and they’ve also announced plans for a REC 3. No details are available on that one just yet, but let’s hope they know what they’re doing- there’s no need to beat this concept into the ground.
Check out the incredibly effective teaser trailer for REC 2 to give you an idea of what to expect, and keep an eye out for the film this July.
12 comments
Excellent! The original REC was as good a horror movie I've seen this past decade. Could've used more tits though.
I saw this at the Midnight Madness lineup at last year's Toronto Film Festival and it completely blew away the packed theatre. One of the most intense horror films I've seen in years. This is a must see.
So is the whole movie going to be shot on the troops helmet cams? An honest-to-God first person shooter movie? Sweet.
I was not particularly impressed by the *execution* of [REC]–in fact, I think Quarantine was a vastly better film–but that does not take away from the fact that the Spanish original was quite a daring film in itself.
The FPS parts of this movie are pretty brief. Rec 2 is a great expansion on the events of Rec. Without giving anything away Quarantine made a slight change in Rec's plot that is going to make it very hard to remake Rec 2 without some serious changes.
Its not very good. Blows all its potential goodwill by over-explaining the reason for the "infection" and throwing in a very lame third act complete with whiny teens taking over for the bitchy soldier-protagonists and a painfully obvious end "twist."
I agree with Monty, although I haven't seen the original this second one on its own its not very good. Specially the "twist" ending, I found it so clishe. The only interesting part is right before the end I found it was creative and scary.
Gotta disagree with Derek C. F. Pegritz (?) about Quarantine being a "vastly better film" than [REC] — in fact, Quarantine was essentially a shot for shot remake, but failed to even come close to matching any aspect of the original. It took what was exciting and terrifying, and made it dull and flaccid. It was a completely unnecessary exercise in cash grabbing, made possible because Americans don't like reading subtitles. But I guess it was a godsend for "them horror fans out there who can't read good." Pathetic.
I think that Quarantine was an effective as Rec, maybe more so that the spanish original in that they did away with the supernatural aspects of the original, which in watching REC 2, they treated the Supernatural like a virus, and I really didn't enjoy it. If you are gonna do a possession, there has to be a sense of mystery to it. To say that you can be infected, really didn't gel for me.
Some good cutting there – most liking the lack of "grunge-O-Vision". Nice colours and clarity in the images without losing the in-the-moment feel.
I am a huge fan of the horror genre, and of zombie and supernatural films specifically. I cannot remotely fathom how anyone can put Quarantine and Rec in the same class. Quarantine SUCKED. The acting was terrible, the "on the scene" recording was wholly unbelievable, and it entirely lacked both the character and suspense development necessary to deliver the terror intended in the last 20 minutes of the film. Rec accomplished each of these feats in a manner I have had the pleasure of viewing on only a handful of occasions in any film. Rec 2 was enjoyable, but unfortunately (and necessarily), lacked the same buildup of tension and character development as its predecessor. Honestly, if you thought Quarantine was a better film than Rec, you ought to find a genre more fitting to your taste. Try the formulaic action flick, three cheers for Iron Man and Transformers (gags*).
To each there own, but QUARANTINE a better film than [REC]?
How? Why?
The listless, workmanlike direction?
The wooden performances?
C'mon.
QUARANTINE stands out as a clear example of Hollywood taking a terrific foreign film ( especially a genre film ) & churning out a totally unnecessary, soulless, generic version of it for all those raised on tasteless Wonderbread rather than something authentic, subtantial & far tastier.
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