★★★★★★★★★★7/10

A Spanish horror film set in a Barcelona apartment building. It’s past midnight and the fire department is called in to investigate a woman screaming. A local news crew is shadowing the firefighters, filming a lifestyle segment called “While you were sleeping.” Pablo (Pablo Rosso) the cameraman and Angela (Manuela Velasco) meet the distressed residents of the building on the ground floor. It’s chaotic as there are 2 police officers on site already and everyone wants answers.

The emergency responders and film crew enter the screaming woman’s apartment  and find a blood stained lady in a night-dress. Almost feral looking, she attacks and  tears out a chunk of a policeman’s neck in the process. As they rush the man downstairs, another body crashes into the foyer. It’s one of the firemen and he’s missing a piece from his face too. The situation is out of control but they find themselves locked in the building from the outside. Using an emergency protocol (Bacterial, Nuclear & Chemical) the authorities have quarantined the building. The question is who or what are they locked in with?

Filmed in a documentary style [Rec] certainly has the cinema vérité angle down. The movie does well to not show its hand early. Not knowing is infinitely more frightening than knowing right away.  It’s a creepy place to be and the suspense at certain points was especially good.

The acting was ok, as you would expect for a horror, there was frightened, confused and various degree of hysterics. There were some points where it went beyond hysterics. Fortunately, it wouldn’t last long as attacks increase as the film progressed. The film did start slowly but by the last 30 minutes you’ll find yourself clutching a pillow or loved one. At only 78 minutes it’s short but sweet ride.

[Rec]2 review can be found by clicking this link.

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