Quarantine (2008)

I'm not usually a fan of Found Footage films, not since The Blair Witch Projects which was mostly good due to its introduction of this then groundbreaking sub-genre. I've only recently started trying some films of this sort due to running out of other Netflix options... That being said, I found Quarantine to be very, very good, especially as it succeeds in being scary and frightening and not just startling (there are some jump scares, but they are far from being the main fear factor). I honestly didn't expect it to be so good, so pleasant surprise there!The story is okay, nice at best. Jennifer Carpenter (you know, Dexter's sister) plays the role of a television show host preparing a piece about a night in the lives of LA's fire department. Once they follow the firemen on a seemingly routine call and enter the building - all hell breaks loose. The most impressive aspect of the film is by far the acting, as all characters succeed at being authentic and realistic. In some other similar films character behavior feels forced and deliberate, in an attempt to stir the plot at the necessary direction. Thankfully, not here.However, two things alone bothered me about Quarantine. First, at times the characters make mistakes that are too stupid to be real, like warning each other not to do something and then doing it five seconds later. I realize they are supposed to be panicked and in fear for their lives, but this (unlike most of the film) felt unauthentic and plain dumb. Second, while Carpenter's acting is right on the spot, it appears she was instructed to be overly hysteric at times. Honestly, after 10 full minutes of her screaming, crying and behaving like a child, I as a viewer wished someone would simply smack her. Again, I realize the incentive for the character's behavior, but it simply got really, really annoying and made it hard to focus on what was actually happening.All in all, I must say I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this film. It feels real and human, making the audience constantly afraid and uncertain while posing some interesting questions of morals and ethics. As one who isn't usually a fan of such films I can honestly say I'd recommend it to others like me, meaning those of you who do usually enjoy Found Footage should really like it.

Rec was Blair witch set in an apartment block with zombies. The horror in Rec was down to highly skilled movie crafting. The plot, script, direction and acting were great. It was a visceral horror movie. All this movie had to do was copy that well. But it copied it badly. In Rec there were some stunning moments. This movie copied those moments, but the timing was wrong, the set-up was wrong. It was actually interesting how bad this copy was, it has given me an even higher appreciation of the original. Also the actors in this movie were generic hollywood types. All very dull. The lead actress seemed like she was trying to act scared. In fact, all the acting in this remake was unconvincing. How could they fail? They knew what to do before filming! I did quite enjoy the banter at the start, which was the only engaging part of the entire movie.

Quarantine was a terrifying roller-coaster ride: there were so many jumpscares moments, it was a surprise that my racing heart hadn't recovered from all the banging against my ribcage. I applaud Jennifer Carpenter's performance: she was convincing, and she has proved to be a candidate for a Scream Queen. I feel like she was never off-key.I actually watched Quarantine before I watched the original Spanish REC. And though I enjoyed Quarantine, REC was superior; it seemed more authentic. But as I said: Quarantine was a terrifying roller-coaster ride, just like REC, and I would say it is worth a watch, and, perhaps, a rewatch.

Reality camera-crew accompanies firemen on a routine call-out, to find themselves trapped in a quarantined apartment block full of infectious zombie thingies.Step-by-step remake of the original from Spain, which is famous for its final sequence.I think the direction, acting and editing is mostly superior. The original had way too much shouting, and the lead actress became irritating far too early. This actress does go irritatingly hysterical - pull yourself together, woman! - but at a relatively late stage. And the plot is tightly bound with properly placed pointers so you don't lose track in the chaos.But what about the ending? Everybody knows the creepiest thing ever committed to film is the end sequence in Ringu, which got the American treatment in The Ring, a film that improved hugely on the pace and drama of the original but simply couldn't match that sequence.In this case it seems the film makers thought they had to vary things through camera technique - so the last 20 mins has deeply annoying black screen intervals added to shaky-cam, and the tense last minutes are directed very badly with far too much movement and noise. Grrr.Overall an effective chiller, but if you know the original it's kinda pointless.