Film Review: [Rec]2 (2009)

Writers/Directors: Jaume Balagueró & Paco Plaza
Running time: 82 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Horror/Thriller
UK Release date: 28th May 2010

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 26th June 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Having watched the first film, [Rec], I was intrigued to see how the sequel would make out. The story follows on directly from the first and it tells us about a SWAT team who escort a medical officer into the sealed off building.

Their mission is to find evidence of the original victim of the infection in the penthouse. Of course things don’t quite go according to plan and after much running and shooting they still don’t have the evidence they need. Enter a group of three kids and a fireman. The kids have followed the fireman in through the sewers and they’re just there for kicks. Eventually the two groups meet and as the doctor still tries to locate the original victim, a familiar face from the first film turns up.

It’s quite hard to judge a performance in a language you’re not familiar with, but Jonathan Mellor did a decent job as Dr. Owen. Also worthy of note were; Óscar Zafra as Jefe, Ariel Casas as Larra, Alejandro Casaseca as Martos, Pablo Rosso as Rosso and Andrea Ros as Mire.

I did like the way the stories of the various groups of characters tied together, this was well done. The technical side of things, the blood, the guts and the gore was also very well done. What I did find hard to swallow was the reason behind the infection, it was hinted at in the first film but I just found it quite ludicrous to be honest. I won’t say what it is… spoilers. Of course I have to draw comparisons with the first film and I’m afraid this one isn’t nearly as good. Unfortunately it does also look like a first person shooter video game, which does get kind of repetitive after a while. It may have been more watchable if I hadn’t seen the first one, but even so I did find the plot a little weak. I guess if you have seen the first on and are intrigued to know what happens next then by all means give it a go, it’s not quite as bad as it might have been.

My Score: 6,2/10

LINKS:
(RT = Rotten Tomatoes)
IMDb Page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1245112/
RT Page: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rec_2/
Official Site: http://www.rec2themovie.com/
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rec2movie
Trailer: