CinemaRatty: Quarantine A Filmcritic Review

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Quarantine A Filmcritic Review

2008-10-11 02:56:30 by Sam Sloan in Slice of SciFi

Director: John Erick Dowdle
Producer: Julio Fernández, Roy Lee, Carlos Fernández, Sergio Aguero, Clint Culpepper, Doug Davison
Screenwriter: John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle
Stars: Jennifer Carpenter, Steve Harris, Jay Hernandez, Johnathon Schaech
MPAA Rating: R

Filmcritic Rating = 3.0 out of 5 Stars

“The ill have gone insane and are attacking and killing the living.”

With innovation such a scarce commodity, Hollywood should really stop remaking foreign films. Aside from their almost universal track record for underachieving, there is something so basic about experiencing a movie in its native tongue that no translation (or poorly scripted dubbing) can match. This past August, the sensational Spanish thriller [REC] — as in the “record” button on a video camera — caused an uproar in New Zealand when one beleaguered audience member soiled themselves during a screening. Naturally, Tinseltown already had its version — relabeled Quarantine — ready to jump on such publicity. As found footage/first person POV style shockers go, it’s pretty good. You can leave your adult diapers at home, however.

Viewed through the lens of her accompanying cameraman Scott (Steve Harris), reporter Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter) prepares for a night following the exploits of an LA fire company. Quickly introduced to Jake (Jay Hernandez) and George (Johnathon Schaech), she learns that the hook and ladder life isn’t always emergencies and heroism. When a call comes from the tenants of a rundown apartment building, the guys treat it as routine. But Angela and Scott soon uncover something horrifying — people in the complex appear infected with a kind of super rabies. And the city, state, and national governments are closing off the building, locking everyone — the sick and the healthy — within. While trying to get out, our news crew discovers an even more shocking truth. The ill have gone insane and are attacking and killing the living.

If you never saw [REC], never read a single review of the mesmerizing shocker, or have no idea of the brilliant work done by directors Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, then Quarantine will appear absolutely fresh and highly imaginative.