Rec 2

Shot in a cinema verité style (think The Blair Witch Project), Rec followed a TV documentarycrew who were shadowing a Spanish fire brigade unit. Summoned to investigate strange goings on in an apartment block, they arrive to find the inhabitants infected by some zombie-type virus. Soon afterwards, they realise that they have been locked in the apartment when the authorities seal off the building. Rec 2 takes over where the first film left off. A SWAT unit arrives at the block to establish what has happened and to contain the danger. With cameras strapped to their helmets, they enter the building accompanied by a priest… only to realise that the inhabitants have – one-by-one – been demonically possessed. It makes for a nice twist on the usual zombie plotline.

Rec 2 is not strikingly different from the first film, and offers a very similar recipe of gruesome, blood-soaked horror – with the ‘infected’ inhabitants dashing around the apartment corridors, stairwells and, even, ceilings – launching themselves against the hapless SWAT team and a trio of teenagers who manage to infiltrate the quarantined block. It can’t hope to match the first outing in terms of surprises, simply because anyone who’s already seen the first film will already know what horror lurks inside the infected building. That said, Rec 2 is an adrenaline-charged and faithfull follow-up – even if the horror occasionally lapses into the laughable.

If you enjoyed the first film, you’ll enjoy the sequel. If you missed the first outing, Rec 2 is fun, but for a superior cinematic treat, you might be better off purchasing Rec on DVD. It deserves a place in any self-respecting horror fan’s collection.