[Rec]² (2009) Reviews

• A highly anticipated sequel that (mostly) delivers.

  lewiskendell2011-07-23

  Not as cohesive or frightening, as the first REC (which is one of my favorite modern horror movies), but still a tense and thrilling horror ride, more often than not. This is a direct continuation of the original, and happens in and around the same apartment building on the same night.  REC 2 takes the supernatural elements of the first movie and further explores them, which sets it apart from some similar zombie-type films. No complaints from me there, I enjoyed the expansion of the overall mythos and the added backstory/explanation for some of the people and events of the first film. On the negative side, I did find the new characters introduced in this one to be almost universally unlikable and annoying. Did that ruin the movie? No, but I definitely cared about the well-being and survival of these people less than those that came before. There's also a slight feeling of repetition that comes with using the same location again, but that's understandable considering the direct plot continuance.   REC 2 is basically more of the same, so if you enjoyed the first, there's no real reason why you shouldn't see this. It's not quite up to the same quality, but it's worth checking out to see the interesting direction the story goes in. 

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• Rec ² (2009)

  SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain2012-01-17

  Rec 2 picks up just moments after Rec. Now a SWAT Team and a medical officer are being sent in to clear up any mess. It's a simple, but still a powerful premise. It was kind of nice touring the same building again, seeing the remains of the previous film. The SWAT team POV also sets up some fantastic 1st person shooting scenes. This has to become a game at some point. The attacks do become a bit repetitive, but the story is given an extra kick by expanding on the demonic possession themes. This sets it apart from other zombie/virus movies. It had plenty of jumps and did unsettle me. Wouldn't mind watching the two films back to back for an ultimate experience.

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• They did it again!

  banbogdan2010-02-24

  First of all someone wrote : "Worst movie ever?" I'm wondering if he really watched this movie. Anyway REC2 really did it for me,I was so looking forward to seeing this sequel and after reading some IMDb reviews I was thinking...boy I hope this wont be major let down. And it wasn't! From the first minute to the last it was a thrill ride.I saw some excellent camera work, some really impressive effects and some top acting. After i watched the first one,i was asking myself :"How did it start? What really happened?" Well in REC2 you get all the answers. Once again BRAVO Jaume Balagueró&Paco Plaza BRAVO Spain

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• REC 2 Continues The Creepy Atmosphere Of It's Predecessor While Giving Something New

  shanebeacham2010-06-18

  I am huge fan of the original horror film "REC," which of course inspired the American remake "Quarantine." So of course, once I heard that they were making the sequel I was up for it completely. The first film still scares me to this day, even though I've watched it several times. While I'm not sure I could have the same experience with REC 2, the movie is still a great horror film. REC 2 starts almost immediately after the events that took place in the first film, and follows members of the S.W.A.T. team going to the apartment complex from the first film. Equipped with video cameras, they go in to find any remaining characters, and find the antidote to the virus that is spreading. We also follow a group of teenagers who end up finding their way in too. We see both vantage points, including the horror that both teams face. The way this film is shot is breathtaking. In the first film, we had only one perspective from a TV camera. In this film, the S.W.A.T. team uses cameras that can link to mini cameras so that when one of the characters is on his own we can see what's going on. Some may feel this doesn't keep the realism, but I feel it does. Law-enforcement men take cameras with them all the time, and if you were a kid going into the apartment to see what's going on, naturally you would have a camera. In terms of a technical achievement, REC 2 definitely brings it up a level. In the last film, what this virus may be is merely hinted at. In here, the directors move more into the mythology they created and expand it. We learn, without giving too much away, that the virus is much more than what we thought it was, something that leads back to the Vatican and religion in general. While I wouldn't say the second film is as scary as the first, it still carries the creepy atmosphere set up in the first REC. There are many scenes were you feel trapped and you can't get out, and not knowing what's gonna happen next. I was very pleased that they brought back Angela Vidal (the main character) for the second film. I felt that the actress did well, and the directors brought her character to the right point, which leads into my next topic: The ending. I was wondering how the film's climax would be and if it would top the first film's ending, which goes down as one of the most frightening things I've ever seen. The answer is yes, it does go in the right direction, shocks you, and sets you up for the third film. The biggest problem that I can say about REC 2 is that while characters in the first film were well developed and memorable, you don't get that with these new characters. Sure we fear for them, sure they're not bad characters at all. But none of them really made me think about them afterward, and the only character that was memorable was Angela Vidal, who was in the first film. It felt a little too shaky at times for me. While it does keep the film tense especially in it's more obscure moments, I really wished the camera could stop and calm down at a few points. While REC 2 may not be as incredible as the first, it still takes things that were done well in the first film and makes them better. So if you liked the first movie and you're hyped for the second, you shouldn't be disappointed.

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• Ruined the atmosphere for the 1st film

  flaviofoglia2010-07-23

  I watched yesterday Rec 1, a masterpiece. This evening, Rec 2. This is not an awful film after all, but several points below the first one (I voted the first 8/10). Rec 1 transmitted to me a sense of confusion, mystery, it really makes you feel like you are one of the people trapped in that apartment, who doesn't really know well what is going on, both inside and outside the building. But the first film is realistic: deals about science, a virus, zombies (although they are faster and more intelligent then the standard), physical infection. Rec 2 changes this to a demoniac possession which reminds the Exorcist. First film was science, second film is religion. I preferred science. In this second film Satan talks through the infected/possessed people, and like in The Exorcist is able to change the voice of its victim. I found that quite ridiculous, kind of a thing that would be never happened in 1st film, where the villains were infected and not possessed! So now why this stupid change?! It is just a bad mismatch if you pair it with the realistic horror masterpiece that was Rec 1. Also, the characters were better in the first. They were just common people, their reactions were understandable, but why in the sequel a police team that should be quite prepared acts stupid more than once? They should know when to shoot, and react less hysterically even if the situation was tragic. Even the camera was better in the first movie. You feel that the camera is really inside the movie, but here seems more "external". The cameraman never does anything except filming, like if in a situation were you are in a high risk of death your first thought is keep the camera in position. Then one of the policemen says, "how could we make the people outside believe what is happening here? Nobody is going to believe us!". Now, think about it, you took a member of your team that does nothing except filming all the time and you have no proof?! Bah. So my final suggestion: watch Rec 1, that is very well made, realistic, full of suspense, does his horror movie job very well. Rec 2? Not so bad, but more than 1 stupid storyline decision that ruined this sequel, like the introduction of Satan and supernatural elements, and lack of characterization.

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