[REC] (2008)

Excellent adaptation.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Really liked the end credits. The Diary of the Dead story and camera work gave me a headache.We get it you scream. A lot.

I was hoping for a good horror flick but were disappointed. Fortunately, because of all the good reviews, it is probably just me and you will enjoy this anyway. Good for you. But even though I watched home alone, in the dark of the night as I usually do with horror films, I was not scared. There were very few moments of light suspense. The camera is horrid even for a POV film. The 1998 Blair Witch has ecstatic camera work compared to this. Almost all the actors and especially the main characters are unbearably bad in their roles. They do not feel genuine and their constant shouting and screaming it annoying and out of place in most of the scenes. I just wished they would just die as soon as possilble so I could focus on the suspense build up but that was in vain - until the very last second of the movie, there is constant screaming and unpleasant voice of the main character. Most of the deaths are the most predictable clichés and characters behaving in seriously dumb ways. It felt like watching just a bunch of people with dementia. There was not a single calm person in the movie, nobody who could bring in a minute of silence or just actually think about the situation. As I said, everyone seems to be enjoying this film. So go ahead and see for yourself.

Finally got around to seeing this and it is really quite a ride. First film for a long time to really make me jump. Starts modestly enough, almost banal, as we follow a local TV crew as they spend time with the local emergency fire service. Point of view all the time so whilst we might not get particularly involved with the participants, it is us in the line of fire, as it were, as the film progresses. First call is to someone apparently trapped in a building so not the flames and excitement anticipated by the film crew and ourselves. However, things happen. basically we are talking zombies but this is a very original take. The film is not over long so we get a tight, taught and terrifying hour and a quarter. Its not the best horror film ever but no fan should be disappointed. Imaginative.

Not all found footage films are created equal. Heck, that goes for traditional movies as well so that's not news. But, this film is a cut above the rest. If I were to classify found footage films I would put them in three groups. 1.) The "Paranormal Activity" style. 2.) The film crew style.3.) The amateur videographer styleThe "Paranormal Activity" style is strategic placement of cameras throughout the location to catch the various action. It makes sense and doesn't rely on a single cameraman to be present everywhere. The film crew (even if it's just one cameraman) works because their job is to video document, which means they'll be skilled at it and continue doing just that even when things get weird. They usually have higher end cameras and camera equipment for a better viewing experience. "REC" follows this format. And unlike some movies where it becomes irrational to continue filming, in this movie it was a logical conclusion to keep filming as they wanted to prove to the world what was happening. The amateur videographer style usually doesn't work that well. First, he's an amateur. And Second, many times he's with a camera filming everything even when it doesn't make sense for him to be doing that (which really grates my nerves).As for "REC", it's done really well. The acting was spectacular. There was a real natural feel to it as Angela (Manuela Velasco) and her cameraman Pablo (Pablo Rosso) were documenting the events of the night. Nothing seemed rehearsed; their interviews, their regular conversation, and even the reactions to the complete chaos that ensued. The shots were great and the movie was edited to near perfection. "REC" hits a home run for the found footage genre.