Jan 10, 2011 05:08 PM
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In 2007, a horror movie was released, of Spanish language, which follows filming in the recording format (the same pattern used in other movies like, Love Sex Aur Dhokha). This movie was directed by Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza, whose central theme is horror, and was remade in US by the name "Quarantine". This movie have all the aspects of horror covered, well supported by the shaky camerawork.
Movie started with a TV reporter Angela (Manuela Velasco) who is interviewing Barcelona's Fire Stations, night-time working firemen, while Pablo (Pablo Rosso), was the cameraman. They are shooting these footage for their new documentary named "While You're Asleep". Just in the middle of program, the firemen got a call, about some incident happened in nearby building, where a woman is trapped in the apartment. So, alongwith them, this crew too went shooting all the incidents. The firemen broke the door of the apartment and find the women very aggressive, looks like she is possessed. She bite the policemen. During this time, military sealed off the whole building, since they got news about some deadly virus infecting the residents of buildings, so they all including the shooting crew and firemen got quarantined, and separated from rest of the world. A health inspector was sent inside to take the samples and to find out the solution, but soon, everybody got affected and killed. Only Angela and Pablo remains, who have to run above in the penthouse, scaring of remained possessed inhabitants' attacks. In penthouse, they come to know about the owner, who was actually doing some research of a deadly virus on some young girl there, and is able to constitute it, that virus can cause demonic possession possible. In the last that girl (looked terrifying, not for weak-hearts, and very thin, just consists of some bones), attacked them as well, and Angela was taken away, by the demonic girl pulling her leg, while the camera was remained on the floor (which was dropped earlier by attack on Pablo).
One more movie shot using shaky camera angles, giving the feel of live recording technique, wonderfully shot by cinematographer Pablo Rosso. Horror feel was to the fullest, well thought, and well filmed. It looks like in real everybody was possessed, acting like devils, what a wonderful direction, everything looks real. Plot was good alongwith the tight screenplay, written by the directors of the movie and Luis A. Berdejo. Editing (David Gallart) was sharp, increased the horror feel, no boring moment, and which decresed the movie-time to just 78 minutes. As per Wikipedia figures, this movie got 96% fresh ratings on "Rotten Tomatoes" critics' website. If the movie built on the horrifying quotient, the climax was high on the adrenaline, more horrific, and the perfect ending to the movie. Seeing the demonic girl in sudden light of camera while the crew is hiding in the darkness, just increases your heartbeat and you get more terrified. I can say this movie as one of the great horror movie of all time, but may be not liked by everybody. Some of the worth mentioning scenes include-
The aggressive lady attacking the policemen.
Attacks by possessed inhabitants.
The remaining inhabitants and crew members, running and trying to save themselves from the possessed ones, when they cannot go outside the sealed building.
Turning and attacking of possessed inhabitants.
The climax, where Angela and Pablo attacked by the demon girl.
As it is said that science is okay, but over-science may lead to destruction. Now-a-days, so many topics and subjects are covered by different scientist, so what if someone is working on such a virus which can be used as a lethal weapon in a war to attack the other countries' soldiers, developing of the weapons of mass destruction, using chemical warfare, including deadly viruses. This is what can happen on a small level, and then you can think about the bigger level. You can't prevent if it got out of control. The movie also have a sequel named as REC 2, which is also as horrifying as this one (as per ratings I checked, I haven't watched it yet). I will still recommend this original spanish movie instead of its american counterpart "Quarantine". Watch it for the thrill, and horror. I remember we 3 room-mates watched it together on our Laptop in night in total darkness, and after the ending, we were not able to utter even one word.
GRuchirG.
