+ 5-Minute (*No-Spoiler) Mini Movie Reviews + by R.J. Cavender 03/03/2010 +

RATINGS KEY 

 

[.REC] 2 (2009)

Wow! There are few sequels, especially in horror, that do all the things a sequel should do and then go above and beyond. This second installment to one of the better first-person-shot-on-video horror flicks both ups the ante and changes all the rules and does so while still keeping true to the formula that made the first film so damn creepy to begin with. This is one intense film.

 

But, first…let me say a little something here. Forget all about “Quarantine”, the American remake of the original Spanish movie “[.Rec]”. If you saw “Quarantine”, I’m here to tell you that it’s just not nearly as good as the original film. And, I’m willing to bet the American sequel (which is bound to be in production as we speak), won’t deliver the goods either.

 

But, “[.Rec] 2” is pretty close to being the perfect sequel.

 

The film opens with a medical officer and a SWAT team outfitted with video cameras being dispatched to a quarantined and sealed off apartment building to control the situation. The action takes place immediately following the events of the first film, so it’s really interesting to see new characters surveying a situation in progress. And using some of the tech gadgetry the officers are supposed to be decked out with, the director is able to do some fun stuff involving characters and their location within the chaotic situation.

 

I’ve got to say that I really enjoyed watching this film. I’m unsure what the U.S. DVD release date will be on this, but it is one well worth seeking out with its original. The film is nerve-rattling and dark and just about as creepy as you can get. It tries and succeeds at doing something that’s not as easily defined within the genre and once you’re a few minutes in you completely forget you’re reading subtitles.

 

Easily one of the best horror films I’ve seen in the last 5 years!

 

4 ½  SKULLS

 

 ½

 

 

Doghouse (2009)

I heard this film described in advertising as ‘”Shaun of the Dead” meets The Battle of the Sexes’. And it is…sort of. It’s certainly a British film and it’s certainly a comedy, but the caliber of humor and the level of zombified intensity didn’t really match up to “Shaun’ and this one seems to be lacking some of the heart of that film as well. All that said, I really enjoyed this film a lot. But, unfair descriptions aside, it’s a fun film with some pretty crazy action.

 

The basic premise involves a group of buddies going to party in another town to celebrate a friend’s divorce. Once they arrive in this town that’s purported to have an unusually out-of-skew male-to-female ratio, they find that the inhabitants of this town are all man-hating she-zombies. Sounds pretty corny on paper, but it’s a fun little shit-ride, I assure you!

 

I remember feeling that this film seemed a bit incomplete when I watched it. It’s certainly not a perfect movie. But, all-in-all it was a fun comedy-horror film…a genre I personally have a really hard time getting into. But, this film delivered on a lot of levels and while it might not at all be on the same level as “Shaun of the Dead”, I’d say the two watched back-to-back would make for a great night of Zombie Comedy.

 

3 ½ SKULLS

 

 ½

 

 

The Crazies (2010)

While I wasn’t crazy about the original 1973 Romero film, I found this one to be a decent diversion…but I’m not too sure it’ll stick with me past the next ‘viral accident pandemic’ film. It had its moments, as did the first film, but it just all kind of felt like I’d seen it before. At least the original was somewhat creative for the time. I was entertained by this film, but it just didn’t feel like anything new was coming from this idea. It didn’t really expand much beyond the old Us-versus-Them of a military state, and then trying to flee. Some intense sequences, for sure, but I’m not looking forward to them trying to pull off a sequel of this film. They already made a remake that was marginally better than the first, so I’m really hoping they just stop there and are content with it.

 

3 SKULLS

 

 

 

The Crazies (1973)

(After watching the NEW remake, I decided to go back and pull this video review from the +Horror Library+ review archives!)

George A. Romero has certainly made much better films. That said, this one has its moments. Some definite shades of “Night of the Living Dead” plus some foreshadowing and influence for projects like “28 Days Later” and other viral related disaster films. But…time hasn’t been kind to this one. Very outdated, horrible acting, and overall it just ends up being more laughable than anything else. But, it was something somewhat new for it’s time…so that’s got to count for something. In my opinion, best viewed with a few friends, a few drinks, and if nothing else…you’ll have a few laughs.

 

3 SKULLS

 

 

 

 

The Collector (2009)

Add equal parts “Cube” and “Saw” and something else I’ve yet to pinpoint…you have “The Collector”. Not particularly original, but it was entertaining. Not particularly scary, but there are a few intense moments. Not all that memorable…what were we talking about again? Kind of like a Xerox of a Xerox of a Xerox, but if you’ve not nothing else in you Netflix queue, you could probably do worse. But, that’s not really saying all that much now is it?

 

2 ½ SKULLS

½