Quarantine
Year: 2008
Director: John Erick Dowdel
Studio: Screen Gems
Stars: Jennifer Carpenter, Steve Harris, Jay Hernandez
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 89 Mins

"Quarantine" reminds me in a way of a film that I saw in theaters back in 1999 called “The Blair Witch Project” where it was also a found-footage film and it was also frightening to watch in a theater. Today, films like this one, the original “[REC]”, the often delayed “The Poughkeepsie Tapes”, and “Cloverfield”, which was released earlier this year, owes to a lot to this film, as I truly think without that film, we would not be seeing this found-footage craze. This leads me to "Quarantine."

"Quarantine" is remake of the 2007-acclaimed Spanish horror film, “[REC]”. “[REC]” is a film that I have been looking forward to seeing, but never had that chance, since it’s never been released on DVD in the States and never played in a theater near me.

The film is about a news reporter (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman (Steve Harris) who shadow a group of Los Angeles firefighters for a late night TV show. The group responds to 911 call to an apartment building where it seems like a routine call. But this wasn’t any routine call, as they find a person that’s infected with something unknown. Soon they find themselves with no power, no Internet access, and no way to contact the outside world. They later discover that the CDC is quarantining them for reasons unknown. Soon the residents begin to be infected with something that makes them turn violent, as the people trapped have no way out of the building. This is what was documented during that ordeal. The film also co-stars Jay Hernandez ("Hostel", "World Trade Center"), Dania Ramirez ("Heroes"), and Rade Sherbedgia ("The Eye", "24").

"Quarantine" truly lived up my expectations that I had set with the film, mostly because I have been looking forward to seeing it’s original “[REC]”. That’s why my expectations were so high for this film. The direction was really good. Director John Erick Dowdel (director of the still yet to be released “The Poughkeepsie Tapes”) does a great job keeping the action intense. He does that by using that shaky cam that has made films like “The Blair Witch Project” and “Cloverfield” become so intense. Also, this whole found footage film sub-horror genre works very well, because it brings a sense of realism that many horror films don’t have. This method also helps make the scares in the film frightening. Speaking of the scares, Dowdel does a great job with them, as some of them come out of nowhere which helps this film in a big way, since you know what’s going to happen, from the film’s trailer. Also, Dowdel did a great job having the last fifteen minutes of the film shot in night vision. It makes the ending very creepy and terrifying. Another thing that makes this film very effective was the acting. Dowdel gets very good performances from actress Jennifer Carpenter (who’s performance is also one of the film’s highlights, as she comes off as innocent and terrified) and actors Steve Harris (TV’s "The Practice") and Jay Hernandez. The chemistry between them and all the other actors were very good. I liked how they made their character seem real, as they make them seem like normal people.

The screenplay written by Dowdel and his brother Drew Dowdel was very frightening and intense. One of the reasons that this was enjoyable was that the characters were more realistic, in the way that you won’t see in many horror films, as there was none of the stereotypical characters that see in other horror films. I liked how they spend the first fifteen minutes or so to get to know the main characters, as they come off as realistic. The characters come off that way because they felt like the type that you would see every day on the street. It also, in a way, made me care about them. Another thing that I liked about the screenplay was the fact that the Dowdel brothers don’t bother using an opening title sequence with the beginning of the film. In a way that helped establish that fact the film started at the beginning of the supposed found tape. It, in return, helps establish the film’s realistic tone that it’s trying to go for. Also, this is very scary when watching it in a theater. The scares were very effective because the brothers time them very well, especially when some of them come out of nowhere which I won’t give away, since I really want you to see this film.

After enduring three totally horrible remakes this year, like “Funny Games”, The Eye”, and “One Missed Call”, (aka "One and a Half Missed Hours of my Life", and no, I am still going to call that movie that because it’s true) "Quarantine" is truly a terrorizing remake that makes me now very curious about seeing the original, "[REC]". Hopefully this will get a US DVD release, if "Quarantine" makes money. Please, this is truly a remake that deserves to do well at the box office, so all you horror fans, please go out and support this film, as this truly is one of the year’s best horror films.

Personal Note: I’ll go on the record and say when it’s all said and done that this film will make more money than Saw V.

Review Rating: Five Stars