JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Quarantine (2008) - Trailer Included
Quarantine - Available on DVD
Director: John Erick Dowdle
Starring: Jennifer Carpenter, Jay Hernandez, Steve Harris, Greg Germann
Remaking the Spanish psychotic disease sensation Rec, Quarantine claws it way to ranking high on the list of foreign horror remakes that come close to matching the originals power. Taking the Cloverfield/Cannibal Holocaust found footage aesthetic approach of hand held, single camera coverage to gnaw out an “authenticity” that enhances the conceit. The result is a claustrophobic, rabid infection of tension that burrows beneath the flesh.
Meet L.A. TV News Reporter Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter). She is doing a fluff piece on the fire brigade and the late night media personality is committed to making the most of the opportunity.
Enjoying her work, Angela’s saucy appeal doesn’t go unnoticed by the men in red. After warding off their advances an emergency call comes in. The firemen slide down their poles, hop in the shiny red engines and head towards an unknown disturbance with sirens screeching.
Riding along, Angela and her loyal cameraman Scott (Steve Harris) arrive at an apartment building. Investigating the disturbance soon the scream of one random act of violence seems to be endemic of a vicious primal threat. Doors are locked, windows sealed and a brutal fight for survival is unleashed.
Where is Dexter when I really need him?
John Doe says:
Director John Erick Dowdle (The Poughkeepsie Tapes) is savvy enough to keep what worked about REC and for the most part adds only subtle polishes. Where a redundant shot for shot cover version would have only added an English language rip off, what sets this above are the extension of ideas and refinement of plot detail. The trick is that none of the new moments swallow up the raw atmosphere.
Taking a syringe that mirrors most of the source, the screenplay manages to expand on the mythology of the disease. Unlike many US remakes that do this to dumb down or remove ambiguity, in this case it actually injects a verisimilitude that infers inhumane conspiracy.
Taking the time to set up the characters and establish a connection, the first 30 minutes are deliberately slow so that when the hectic second act decends into a violent frenzy we still relate to key members.
The gory, prosthetic special effects cause a reaction while not removing you from the moment, the frame only holding as long as it takes to process the carnage. Substituting use of a musical score for audio FX contributes to maintaining the urgent tone of the cinematography and the frantic camera movements still acknowledge composition.
This combination of elements helps the cast to convince.Gnashing their teeth, the players all commit to their flesh under the fingernails derangement once the panic breeds.
Jennifer Carpenter (The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Dexter) is the audience’s eyes to horrific events doing a naturalistic job of escalating unfiltered emotions and portraying inevitable fear. Running and screaming through the final act with a dedication that could be seen as excessive were there any weaknesses in the telling.
As the heroic fireman Jake, Jay Hernadez (Hostel, Hostel: Part 2) is engulfed by the part. Playing the veterinarian forced to Doctor, Greg Germann (Friends with Money, Ally McBeal) shows versatility beyond his sitcom performer beginnings.
Steve Harris (Friday Night Lights, Minority Report) as Scott the cameraman with a gift for improvising in dangerous situations is not seen often but his presence is always felt.
Sick to death of seeing foreign favourites like The Ring and The Grudge treated with the universal appeal formula that aborts extremes, John Doe was very reluctant to give Quarantine a chance. It may have it's flaws of clumsiness around the middle of the running time but like an update of David Cronenberg's Shivers and Rabid overall it does an admirable job with the material and bites down hard on the marrow of its inspiration.
The Red Band Trailer for Quarantine.
A high quality Trailer for Quarantine.
Horrorphile
Screen Adventure
Love it! Awesome review - will check out soon. Curious to see that you reviewed this before [REC]
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
And what an occasion!
I have not seen it...must do that!
cheers
fog
20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic
Horrorphile
Watching perhaps Quarantine without having seen [REC] would be interesting, and no doubt highly frightening.
Film & TV on DVD
Certainly the best remake of a Foreign Horror
Film & TV on DVD
And what an occasion!
I have not seen it...must do that!
cheers
fog
Hope I haven't got your expectations too high...after all i was expecting a travesty and got a treat.
Film & TV on DVD
Agreed the final 15 minutes of REC are superior. I'm surprised you agree, i thought i was being controversial for enjoying it as much as I did...it was only Bryn's recommendation that gave me the strength to give it a go.
Film & TV on DVD
Love it! Awesome review - will check out soon. Curious to see that you reviewed this before [REC]
There are two reasons I reviewed thsi instead of REC:
1. It's unique that a remake holds a candle to the original.
2. i watched Quarantine the night before writing this review. Where as REC I saw a few years ago now and its not as fresh in my head.
Look forward to seeing what you think...naturally screen REC first or make it a fun double bill