Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Thank You
    • 4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
    • 3999. The Pianist (2002)
    • 3998. Philadelphia (1993)
    • 3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    • 3996. The Green Mile (1999)
    • 3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
    • 3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»3251. [REC] (2007)

    3251. [REC] (2007)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on February 11, 2021 2007, 70-79 mins, 8 - 10, Feb 21, Horror, Movies Of 2021, Review, Spain, Thriller
    8.5 Petrifying
    • Acting 8.4
    • Directing 8.8
    • Story 8.3
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Manuela Velasco, Ferrán Terraza, Pablo Rosso

    Director: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza

    Running Time: 78 mins


    [REC] is a Spanish film about a TV crew who joins a team of firefighters on a routine call-out to a residential building one night, but things soon take a terrifying turn as the situation spirals dangerously out of control.

    Almost certainly the scariest horror movie I’ve ever seen, [REC] is an absolute masterpiece of the modern found-footage genre. With spellbinding visuals, exhilarating directing, thrilling performances, gripping intrigue and above all some exceptional scares, it’s a truly petrifying watch that you won’t be able to pull yourself away from.

    There are few films out there which can really thrill you while frightening the living daylights out of you. [REC] is probably the very best of all of them, with an addictive, mesmerising visual style that turns the terrifying prospect of jump scares and horrific gore into exhilarating, unmissable viewing.

    The film’s found-footage style is undoubtedly what makes it so intoxicating, as directors Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza take the formula and make it work to absolute perfection. This isn’t gratuitous or cheap found-footage filmmaking, but a movie that uses the medium to enhance every bit of the story it wants to tell.

    Apart from the fact that the style brings you as close to the action as possible, heightening the fear factor and your feeling of vulnerability in the face of unexplained phenomena, the found-footage visuals actually bring about some genuinely gripping drama alongside the film’s exhilarating horror.

    Following a TV presenter and cameraman who find themselves caught in the middle of a night of terrifying horror, the film cleverly touches on themes of the role of the media in crisis situations.

    On the one hand, it’s evident that the crew’s push to record everything for the purposes of a sensationalist TV show is intrusive to the authorities trying to protect people in danger. On the other, however, the film reminds you of the importance of recording and documenting significant events, especially when there are efforts to suppress the reality of what’s happening.

    I don’t want to go into any more detail for fear of spoiling the story, but it’s safe to say that the film’s use of found-footage visuals are so much more than a gimmick to scare you. Playing into some of the film’s riveting dramatic themes as well as fostering gripping intrigue, [REC] is the ultimate example of how to make a great found-footage horror.

    As for the horror itself, pretty much every single moment of [REC] is beyond terrifying. With unrelenting violence, shocking gore and perfectly-timed jump scares, the film has you hooked as much as it makes you want to run and hide behind the sofa.

    It’s the kind of horror that, while difficult to watch, is exhilarating to experience, evidence of immensely impressive directing and writing throughout the film.

    But there’s also a word to be said about the performances here, which, although they may seem simple, are anything but. More than just a group of screaming individuals running amok inside an apartment block, the actors here bring a brilliant blend of exhilarating and melodramatic horror fare along with very genuine, down-to-earth performances.

    Much of the praise has to go to lead actress Manuela Velasco, whose physicality in showing a person become increasingly distressed as the night rolls on is nothing short of spectacular. But she’s more than just a damsel in distress, and offers some riveting characterisation through her confidence and determination to get as much of the events as possible for her TV show.

    That again plays into the film’s themes regarding the media, but it’s also evidence of just how important the performances are to making [REC] such an exhilarating watch.

    In short, [REC] is so much more than just another found-footage horror film. Genuinely petrifying from start to finish, the film uses its visual style to absolute perfection, crafting gripping dramatic and thematic depth alongside terrifying horror that makes [REC] a mesmerising and intoxicating watch.

    With fantastic performances across the board, stunning visual effects and so much more, there’s no denying that this is one of the best, and scariest, horror movies you’ll ever see. So, that’s why I’m giving [REC] an 8.5 overall.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. From January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2022, he watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    8.2

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    8.2
    December 25, 2022

    3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

    5.6
    December 10, 2022

    3969. Falling For Christmas (2022)

    6.9
    December 4, 2022

    3956. The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

    5.4
    December 3, 2022

    3954. Disenchanted (2022)

    7.4
    December 3, 2022

    3953. Meet Cute (2022)

    7.6
    November 23, 2022

    3934. Do Revenge (2022)

    7.0
    November 18, 2022

    3929. The Wonder (2022)

    6.7
    November 13, 2022

    3924. See How They Run (2022)

    Recommended Movies
    8.4
    Review
    October 16, 20160

    1519. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

    8.2
    Review
    February 27, 20190

    2471. Instant Family (2018)

    9.4
    Review
    April 21, 20140

    533. The Incredibles (2004)

    8.1
    Review
    January 11, 20190

    2414. Stan & Ollie (2018)

    8.0
    Review
    June 15, 20170

    1788. 3-Iron (빈집) (2004)

    Popular Posts
    December 31, 2022

    Thank You

    8.2
    December 31, 2022

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8
    December 30, 2022

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2
    December 29, 2022

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    7.5
    December 28, 2022

    3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

    9.1
    December 27, 2022

    3996. The Green Mile (1999)

    7.6
    December 26, 2022

    3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.