SCI FI PI

Released Nov 27
Starring Jennifer Carpenter, Greg Germann, Jonathan Schaech, Jay Hernandez
Directed by John Erick Dowdle
Rated MA15+

There is only one reason, ultimately, why people go to see horror movies. To put them in a place where their pants no longer make any sense. Horror buffs hold out for films that actually scare them, and they wait a long long time before they find one that respects grand horror traditions whilst at the same time bringing something fresh.

This is that movie.





If you are a horror buff, the one thing you hope will happen to you is that you will be scared, good and proper. It's fun. It's why you see the horror movies in the first place. There's a well worn code and you know it without having to articulate it. A good horror director knows this code and will play with it as he plays with the audience's expectations. It's a cat and mouse game, with the director having to provide a twist on well worn territory, but at the same time still covering that territory. To fully satisfy, you have to do both. Seamlessly. You have to do it with wit, and you have to do it with relish.

And that's what we have here.

The result is a film that 'does the business' in a way not seen on screens since films like The Exorcist or The Omen, or possible the J-Horror of The Ring and The Grudge. Think 'The Blair Witch Project', but done right.

And horror of all horrors, it's a remake.






Based on the cult Spanish film, (REC), Quarantine is a twist on a classic horror theme. But for those of you unaware, we won't be putting spoilers of any kind in this review. If you could walk into this film without knowing anything at all about what is going to happen to you, you will have a whale of a time (that is of course, you enjoy having your pants turned to bad-smelling gravy).

If you've seen the trailer, you'll know that the filmmakers aren't keen on giving away what's going on (except that it's frightening). You can see the trailer in Spectrum, if you want.

To give you at least some idea - the story begins with Jennifer Carpenter (who played the feisty and foul mouthed sister of Dexter Morgan in Dexter) as a TV reporter who is doing a 'ride along with firefighters' in ordinary, downtown Los Angeles. She and her cameraman hang out at the station, gathering background and B-roll as they wait for something to happen.





It's a fascinating filmmaking moment. The first part of the film is designed to be as 'normal' and ordinary as possible, with out much going on, yet at the same time, there's enough character moments, and 'bits' to keep it all interesting, which it does. It's a tricky thing to do, and shows that we're in the hands of a team of writers, directors and editors who know what they are doing.

By the time the sirens blare, we do in fact care about the people in front of and behind the camera.

Where are we off to? A boring old four level apartment building. Seems like an old lady has been making a racket. Oddly enough, most call outs for firefighters are medically related. They're on the job to help out.

Of course, it doesn't take long for things to go from a bit unsettling, to bad, to really bad to 'you have got to be kidding'.

If you don't like watching movies with cameras that move around a great deal, then you will have problems with Quarantine. If you have problems watching people slowly walk down dark corridors to open a door that we're pretty certain has something deeply, horrifically awful behind it, you will have problems with Quarantine. If you have any kind of claustrophobia, or fear of being shut in with things that want to kill you, well - you get the gist.





The actors are all playing it down, and with reality the key, this is one of the film's strong points. The logical arguments that an audience will have with a horror movie are for the most part answered by either the plot or the actors. On the other hand, the script also pops up with a few moments of horrific hilarity that horror buffs will see a mile off but will enjoy immensely. The prosthetic work is top notch, belying the film's 'veritas' look. The way that our protagonists exit the stage is done creatively and often, and with some truly shocking moments. Vegetarians may wish to opt out at this point.

If you enjoy horror movies, you will enjoy this. It belongs alongside films like The Evil Dead, but does it in a way that you might (actually, no, not really, but it's close) be able to explain as actually being feasible. It is the kind of film that The Blair Witch Project wanted to be.

Still though, that sting of 'truth' of it 'could actually happen' is one of the rarest and most difficult ingredients to get into a film, and it's done pretty well here.

If you enjoy a good horror movie, see this, and bring a change of pants.