Plot summary:  Trapped in a quarantined Barcelona apartment building with residents, firefighters and a growing horde of ravenous zombies, television reporter Angela (Manuela Velasco) and her cameraman, Pablo, record brutal deaths and terrifying events while trying to stay alive.

Due to its positive critical reception (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), I have been waiting to see [REC] since it was released in Spain in 2007.  After Hollywood subjected audiences to another mediocre horror remake (Quarantine), [REC] was finally given the North American DVD release it deserved on July 14, 2009.  I completely avoided Quarantine as I knew it would probably ruin the experience of seeing [REC].  From what I've read, I made the right choice.

Directors Jaume Balaguero (Darkness) and Paco Plaza have created a freaky viewing experience with [REC].  They utilize a hand-held shaky camera  technique along the same lines as The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield.  This technique is what made this movie so effective, though.  You feel as if you are part of the situation taking place in the apartment building.  You are never introduced to the camerman so it's almost as if you are him, as if the characters are talking directly to you.  This technique has always made me a little queasy, which also throws you off and helps to keep things unpredictable.

Now there are definitely some scenes where you could guess what was going to come next, but that didn't make them any less terrifying.  The final 15 minutes of the movie will really freak you out, especially if you watch this in your pitch black apartment like I did.  Such an effective ending that elevated this movie beyond your standard zombie film.

If I had to make one complaint it would be the lack of character development.  You get to know Angela as she is in front of the camera most of the time.  Velasco successfully manages to balance the frightened bystander who desperately wants to escape with the dedicated reporter who will risk her life to document the story.  It also helps that she's really easy on the eyes.  Of course, if you were the cameraman thrown into this situation, you wouldn't be concerned with getting to know anyone.  You'd only be focused on filming the events and getting the hell out of there.  Also, there would be no development if you were to watch the "discovered" footage after the fact.  So I guess this really isn't too bad of a shortcoming for this film.  It's understandable and fits the situation:  complete strangers trying to survive an unexpected horror.

If you like horror films, do yourself a favor and check out [REC].  It is a worthy entry into the oversaturated zombie genre.  Make sure to watch it before you see the mediocre American remake, Quarantine.  I can't wait to see what Balaguero and Plaza do with their planned sequel.

Rating:  8/10

[REC]

DIRECTORS:  Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza

WRITERS:  Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza, Luis Berdejo

CAST:

Manuela Velasco  ...  Angela Vidal

Ferran Terraza  ...  Manu

Pablo Rosso  ...   Pablo

Jorge Serrano  ...  Policia Joven

David Vert  ...  Alex

Vicente Gil  ...  Policia Adulto