REC 2 (2009)

Directed by: Jaume Balguero & Paco Plaza Written By: Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza & Manu Diez Cinematography By: Pablo Rosso Editor: David Gallart Cast: Jonathan D. Mellor, Oscar Zafra, Claudia Silva, Manuela Velasco The action continues from [Rec], with the medical officer and a SWAT team outfitted with video cameras are sent into the sealed off apartment to control the situation. I loved the original film. Which felt like a breath of fresh air for the genre. It’s sequel is just inferior in every conceivable way. Again the film uses P.O.V. angles that seems like found footage to tell the story which in it’s own way is revolutionary. Truth be told it was going to be hard for this film to ever live up to the original. This production was bigger than the original. The directors were very keen to give the film the additional vibe of a first person shooter video game, where the audience feels personally drawn into the action onscreen. For that reason, the barrel of a gun is in the foreground of a lot of shots. The film begins with a swat team entering the building with a priest/Scientist to find out exactly what is going on in there and to make certain the virus is contained. The first 30 minutes of the film follows the swat team as they encounter the infected and these scenes felt more like a first player video game then anything else as we barely learn anything nor any type of story. It just feels like a cliché horror film. A copy of the original only this one is actually supposed to be a continuation of the original. It feels like it is just meant to shock us now and again with a few changes. Then the film really seems to begin as we watch some teenagers who end up in the building through the sewer. They eventually cross paths with the characters from the first half of the film and these kids are barely warriors. Those are just some of the innovations of the film, but it doesn’t lead to any payoffs. It just seems to be more of the same after awhile.While it is nice to see some familiar faces. The film suffers for the opposite reason that the original works. The first film explained nothing but gave hints as to what might have happened to create this. It offers no concrete explination. Here the mistake is explaining what is happening not exactly 100% but you get the grand idea. It’s still a thrill ride, Just not as good as the original. I would advise to rent not to buy. GRADE: C