[Rec] poster & wallpaper

Claudia Font, Javier Botet, Manuel Bronchud

A team of local TV reporters are following a squad of firemen on night duty. The footage is completely live and their task is to make show about on the life of these professionals who work while we ar...( read more  read more... )e sleeping. The first job of the night is to rescue an old lady who is trapped inside her apartment but the routine rescue soon takes a sinister turn. Something evil is spreading throughout the building, out of control. Trapped inside, the firemen and the TV crew have to confront an unknown and lethal horror. Now, the only thing that matters is hiding, surviving and trying desperately to escape. They must keep on recording. No matter what happens. Until the very last moment...

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35,103 ratings

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95% liked it

21 critics

R, 1 hr. 18 min.

Directed by: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza

Release Date: November 23, 2007

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DVD Release Date: July 14, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (5,265)

  • garyX
    November 1, 2009
    garyX
    [Rec] is a Spanish horror in which a camera crew following the local fire department stumble on an outbreak of a lethal virus and find themselves quarantined in an apartment building with the resulting flesh eating victims. It actually manages to side step many of the usual flaws...( read more) of this kind of camcorder style horror film in that it has decent actors speaking real dialogue within a well engineered, structured plot line. It even uses the format to interesting effect, the cameraman often being brushed aside and forced away from the action, leaving us to hear and imagine what is going on off-sceen which is actually quite effective and adds to a genuine documentary-style experience. The effects are convincing without getting too gratuitously gory and technically, it is very accomplished. Unfortunately as is the case with all of these point and record style films, the story is obviously seen from only one point of view and is therefore very linear and simplistic and has no surprises whatsoever, right through to the inevitable conclusion. If this footage had been intercut with scenes of what was happening on the outside or flashbacks to previous events it could have been really interesting, but as it is there's absolutely nothing here you haven't seen before. And Diary Of The Dead did it better.
  • stopitgoaway
    October 26, 2009
    stopitgoaway
    #30: [REC]
    There's a lot of these shaky-cam movies around at the moment, and among your "Cloverfield"s and "Diary Of The Dead"s this low budget Spanish movie may seem like the underdog, but it's punching way above its weight.

    Filmed by a TV crew stumbling upon something very nas...( read more)ty happening in an apartment block, the movie is shot and acted brilliantly, the sense of unease gradually giving way to all out terror. While it's obviously derivative of movies like "The Last Broadcast" and "The Blair Witch Project" it manages to deliver in a way that those movies couldn't thanks to some brilliant set-pieces. It's not even out in the UK yet and Hollywood have already remade it (the inevitably inferior "Quarantine") but do yourself a favour and spend an evening in the dark with the original. You'll regret it, but in the best possible way. Terrific.

    Best bit: The climactic night vision only stand-off against... well, whatever the hell that thing was.
  • DrZeek
    October 25, 2009
    DrZeek
    Ángela: [to the camera] It's nearly 2 A.M. and we're still sealed in this building that we came to with the firemen earlier this evening, to assist an elderly woman who later attacked a policeman and a fireman. They're both in critical condition. The police won't let us leave and...( read more) are giving us no explanations.

    A quality Spanish horror film, using the live camera style effectively to further enhance the premise. There are a few issues, but the general impact of the scares and solid filmmaking work well to keep the viewer on this ride through a terror filled night.

    The film begins with a local reporter and her camera man filming a segment on firefighters and what there job on night duty involves. Soon, the firemen are called to duty at an apartment building, where someone is said to be trapped in their room.

    Upon arriving, the firefighters and police officers inside find the room with the problem, however things take a turn for the worse as the resident, an old woman, viciously attacks the men trying to help. Attempting to leave with their wounded, the people inside the building find that they are being prevented from escaping by professionals on the outside. Now everyone must wait inside for some supposed "help" to arrive and hopefully inform them about what is going on.

    I can see why this film was remade for America as 'Quarantine.' The film was successful enough, where I believe more people should get to watch this kind of quality horror. The premise is intriguing and it capitalizes off of the live camera technique. The film was successful enough, where I believe more people should get to watch this kind of quality horror. There needs to be a bit of belief suspension to think that someone would continue to operate this camera, but the film certainly never feels gimmicky with its camera use. I've also learned that the remake it is pretty much a shot for shot remake, so I don't plan to see that version.

    I must also point out how great a lot of the camera work is throughout this film. A lot of very long shots, that are more complicated to pull of than it would seem. The use of the single location is effective and the film does a good job of laying out the geography of the area. This is important, because the way the film generates scares based on what you know about the characters surroundings functions as a great way to build tension and not feel cheap.

    The third act is interesting, as night vision becomes key, but reveals of plot information is also handed to the viewer. The mix leads to great scares and exposition, and its a success I give to the filmmakers that the scares outweighed the randomness of having answers be provided.

    Quality horror.

    Sergio: [upon seeing Jennifer] What happened to her eyes?
  • ceWEBrity
    September 17, 2009
    ceWEBrity
    I think the ever-present danger with first-person perspective films is that of realism. It's as if the director is making a contract with the viewer, promising to immerse them to the best of their ability by cutting out the "filmed" aspect of their movie. The problem is that as s...( read more)oon as something betrays the movie's attempt at being realistic, the house of cards just tumbles; you remember that this is just some guy pointing a camera at a bunch of shrieking adults. [REC], more than any first-person film I've encountered (except the disastrous Diary of the Dead, but I'm not sure that quite counts), falls prey to this time and again.

    To be fair to the film, it is horrifying. I watched this in broad daylight and it still gave me the willies. The problem is that I spent just as much time rolling my eyes at it as I did being terrified of it. The movie is filled to the brim with contrivances, just-right movie moments, and horror tropes, so much so that you watch the characters flounder and wonder to yourself if they've ever seen a horror movie before. That guy choosing to stand in front of a glass door, behind which he knows there's a zombie? And right as he's telling everyone how to get out of the building? Dumb. Angela finding the right key amidst a stack of about 100 in less than a minute's time? Yeah, okay. Stuff like this completely sells the movie out much more than a typically filmed movie, because something like [REC] strives to include the viewer in the experience, instead of presenting an experience to the viewer. In your typical horror movie, a cliche might simply roll off of you, because what you're seeing is an alternate universe. In something like [REC], heavily plotted moments are all the more painful. The point of all this is simply to highlight that [REC] is good, but flawed, and could have been so much better. First-person horror has the potential to be incredibly effective, as this film demonstrates. The atmosphere is well-built and the sound design is great, and though the scares are primarily of the jump variety, the wave of fear you ride to them on makes them really count.

    I also had a problem with the lead character, sprightly and cute but deeply irritating. She's initially painted as a plucky, take-charge reporter, but she brings no skills or insight to the survivors and generally just whines about how much they need to film what's going on. Anyone there could have taken her place. The performance itself is likely the problem, as Manuela Velasco comes across as whiny rather than self-assured. It's not that I need a likable or competent protagonist to guide me through a movie, but in a tale of survival, I'd like to care if the character actually survives.
  • g0disd3ad
    September 12, 2009
    g0disd3ad
    not bad, I watched it all so that must mean it wasn't bad, kept me interesting. an ok movie, you should watch this one instead of quarantine, that's for sure
  • pauladm87
    November 24, 2009
    pauladm87
    Me encanto (y eso que no esta en ingles)!!! Si habre gritado!
  • malacaynomuerto
    November 22, 2009
    malacaynomuerto
    Joder no me entere de mucho por que no supe si era algo químico o algo religioso, pero igual que miedo!!!!!! que joda pa bien lograda!
  • mvk61
    November 21, 2009
    mvk61
    New Kind of horror!! Must watch!!
  • rajanaufal2
    November 21, 2009
    rajanaufal2
    I'm usually not scared easily. If a film succeeds in scaring me, then it's freaking damn exellent. In order to get the impact it is strictly necessary to have lights off and volume up, or either don't bother saying this film was bad. Rec is one of the most realistic horror movies...( read more), although it deals with an unrealistic subject, Zombies. The buildup to the breathtaking climax was fantastic, and lots of questions are answered, unlike other horror flicks. As it is also unlikely to have a good ending to such films, Rec succeeds tremendously. The acting was as real as it could get. You'll just have the feeling these guys are really in that terrible mess. To add up to everything, the setup reminded me of the only game that scared the shit out of me. Silent Hill 4.
    As I said, turn off the lights, Raise the volume up, and enjoy.
  • Lilbrowncat
    November 20, 2009
    Lilbrowncat
    This is the film "The Blair Witch Project" should have been. Shot in the over-abused handheld camera mode, this little gem manages to re-invent the Zombie flick in 75 short minutes. The pace is unrelenting...we follow a TV documentary crew filming an episode of "While We Sleep" a...( read more)bout firemen, nothing new here but the way the film unfolds, with new and inventive "BOO" scares, is masterful and with an ending that will blow your mind, makes this one of the finest horror films in the last few years. See it before the sucky U.S. remake "Quarantine"

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Comments

  • fearnet
    July 21, 2009
    fearnet
    Check out an exclusive clip from [REC]!!

    http://www.fearnet.com/videos/b15984_rec_exclusive_clip.html
  • rzyadat
    April 11, 2009
    rzyadat
    i havnt seen it yet ...... my sister did and she is so scared
  • katangel13
    March 14, 2009
    katangel13
    [SPOILER]

    did anyone else notice the difference with the boy in the attic and the woman in the penthouse?
  • chrismid259
    December 9, 2008
    chrismid259
    "I cant wait to watch the english version and not have to read subtitles."

    LOL!
  • hyypia
    November 12, 2008
    hyypia
    Usually I'm very horror proof, but this one made me scared like little girl. One of best I've seen, one of it's kind. It's freakin sets new level...
  • aftrs
    July 29, 2008
    aftrs
    Well I watched the film in spanish [with subtitles] ... I must say its got that creepy factor [ a little like 28 days later ], jennifer the little girl was brilliant she made the film feel scary- I cant wait to watch the english version and not have to read subtitles.
  • lovecyn4ever
    July 11, 2008
    lovecyn4ever
    If you're claustrophobic & get scared of whatever jumps or scream out of the dark,then you might find this film to be very scary but that wasn't my case.

    y

    [REC] is been getting so much hype but is similar to 28 days later,not better or scary in my opinion.The film is not intense from start to finish.The first half wasted time with unnecessary dialog in the beginning & also with the reporter making interviews with all the chaos going on.Most of the action & intense moments happens during the second half but few scenes are too dark or out of focus just because of this trend of being filmed from a cameraman's point of view which it needs to stop.I don't see what's so pleasant about a shaky camera.The leading actress who plays a reporter named Angela delivers a good & convincing performance.The best part of the movie is tours the end.The last few minutes which unfortunately it was too short,was creepy with a unexpected twist to add to the story.



  • chrismid259
    June 30, 2008
    chrismid259
    Oh my gosh. A sequel. YAY!
  • DuncanRR
    June 1, 2008
    DuncanRR
    Anyone know when this'll be available on DVD? Also, did any theaters in the U.S. show it? How have people been able to see it?
  • IzzyGibs
    March 24, 2008
    IzzyGibs
    A quick plot overview as there isn't on above:

    What appears to be a routine emergency call quickly turns to hell as a news team are trapped inside a building with no means of escape as things go from worse to worse. The only thing that matters is trying to escape while capturing everything on camera.
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