In the end, REC is so good because it's well-plotted and expertly scripted, with the story always unfolding as the running time goes on. The crew are also very good indeed and these Spaniards sure show Hollywood folk how it's done – this blows away pretty much everything to come out of America in the past few years. It helps that the cast is uniformly excellent, especially Manuela Velasco who transforms from sassy reporter to woman-in-peril with utmost believability. Where the film is most frightening is in the suspense bits which are unbearably atmospheric – the bit in the penthouse at the end, for instance, or the staircase scenes.
Of course it's zombie action as usual, with plenty of jumpy moments as survivors are whittled down and the blood flows freely.
Wow! What else is there to say about this timely Spanish zombie flick which has fallen in with the recent crowd of 'camcorder' horror flicks like THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT(which started the trend, of course), CLVOERFIELD, and the virtually-the-same DIARY OF THE DEAD? It's an absolutely terrifying effort that reminds us once again that there's no need for CGI effects or anything else when it comes to true startling horror – just trap a bunch of people in an apartment building and let the fun begin! I had high hopes for this film beforehand – I purchased it sight unseen which is unusual for me – and they were all fulfilled during this roller-coaster ride of terror. Reviewed by Leofwine_draca 10 / 10 One of the best horror movies out there