REC (2007)

The opening of REC successfully lulls the viewer into a false sense of security, as we find ourselves nodding off with the main characters as they wait for something to happen.

The camerawork will, undoubtedly, turn off some viewers. But what it loses in technical polish it gains in profoundly conveying the chaos of the situation, making the viewer feel trapped with the film's characters. A distinction is worth making: in REC, the unsteadiness works in the film's favor rather than acting as a detriment. Events are captured clearly but with a realistic amount of movement, obscuring the image through things like distance.

Ángela, played by Manuela Velasco, sells her character with vocal charm early in the film and her tenacity as things progress. She starts her night as a normal journalist; when thrust into an extraordinary situation, she feels obligated to act as a documentor; finally, when the infected begin wreaking havoc, she becomes another victim running for her life.

By the end, Ángela is terrified, trapped in the dark, and being stalked by a hideous monstrosity. The screams let loose by Velasco are piercing and her wailing is delivered with conviction. The final confrontation is hair-raising, as the camera is stricken again and again before Ángela is dragged away.

The last-minute inclusion of religious lore was a smart one and imbued our final monster with unique terror. The shots of news clippings and old photographs create fascinating religious lore for the infection, treating demonic possession as contagion. The accompanying voice recording of muttering context elevates the atmosphere.

For fans of horror, and especially fans of found footage, REC is absolutely worth the price of admission.