Quarantine

Genre - Horror
Year Released - 2008
Running Time - 89 minutes
Rated R (for bloody, violent, and disturbing images - terror - and language)
Directed by John Erick Dowdle (who also directed The Poughkeepsie Tapes - a movie about a serial killer - which is in my Netflix Queue - I have not seen that one yet, though I want to!)
Written by John Erick and Drew Dowdle (both of whom also wrote The Poughkeepsie Tapes)
*this movie is an American Re-make of the Spanish Horror Film [REC] written by Jaume Balaguero, (who also wrote To Let & The Nameless) Luis Berdejo, (who also wrote A Christmas Tale) and Paco Plaza*
Cast Includes:
Jennifer Carpenter (the sister of Dexter, in the Showtime Series - she also played Emily in The Exorcism of Emily Rose)
Steve Harris (Diary of a Mad Black Woman)
Jay Hernandez (Hostel 1 & 2 and Lakeview Terrace)
Johnathon Schaech (Road House 2: Last Call)

Rating: 3 Skulls

Plot Summary:
While on assignment, an L.A. news reporter and her cameraman find themselves trapped in a quarantined apartment complex, along with a vicious unknown killer.
With all forms of communication cut, the news crew keeps the camera rolling as they search for a way out.
The building is locked down, a killer is on the loose, and panic sets in as those trapped inside make a desperate attempt to escape with their lives.


Before I give my review, I first have to tell you something:
Before I saw this movie, I had lunch right beforehand (a grilled chicken sandwich)
About thirty/forty minutes into the movie, I started feeling a little bit nauseous, and I wondered, to myself, if perhaps I had eaten some bad chicken. About an hour into the movie, my nausea was increasing, and I felt like I was getting a slight headache, which worried me, as I sometimes get Migraines. . .
Eventually, it dawned on me that I was getting sick to my stomach, because of the movie! (it is filmed in first-person style, and there are plenty of moments that it is dark, with flickering lights, and mass confusion. Now, if you know me, you know that I love amusement park rides, etc (rollercoasters, upside down, twisting in all directions, you name it - I ride it!) I do not get motion sickness [though I will admit, that as I am getting older, the more I ride spinning rides, repeatedly, I do start to feel nauseous] ;-)

When it comes to movies though, NEVER! (The Blair Witch Project - Saving Private Ryan - neither of those bothered me, and I saw them both in the theatre)

I couldn't believe it! I was actually having to look down, at my feet, for the latter part of the movie - if it had been 5 minutes longer, I am sure that I would have had to rush out to puke my guts out!
The only reason that I am telling you this, is just in case some of you, out there, have motion sickness. (My wife says that you may want to take a Dramamine beforehand...)
[I remember when the video game Wolfenstein first came out - I had a friend who could only play the game for so long, before he had to stop because he was feeling sick - I used to tease him about that - now I know how he felt. . .]


Review:
For the record, I have not yet seen [REC] though I really wanted to see that film, before this American Re-make. The first thing that I am going to buy, when we settle back down, is a Region-free DVD Player! :-)

As soon as the movie starts, you immediately like Jennifer Carpenter's character.
Her and her cameraman have been assigned to shadow a couple of fire fighters, on the night shift. In the beginning, you learn that 85% of all fire fighter calls are medical emergencies, as opposed to actual fires - in fact, more and more fire fighters are becoming paramedics as well.
Another fun tidbit that you learn, is the background of the dalmatians. Apparently, back in the days of horse-drawn fire carriages, it was the dalmatians job to run ahead to an intersection to stop any traffic. (I just thought that was pretty cool, as I did not know that)
So, the first 15 minutes or so, is getting acquainted with the fire fighters routine, etc.
Then they get a call, and the movie immediately switches gears.

At first, I thought things were happening way too quickly - I mean, they weren't even in the apartment complex for more than, maybe, 10 minutes or so, when bam, all of a sudden, it is locked down, by SWAT, etc. It is eventually, reasonably, explained as the movie continues.

Being that I have not yet seen [REC] I do not know how accurate of a re-make this is. I have not heard one single bad thing about [REC} In fact, all I hear are rave reviews, talking about how terrifying the movie is, etc.

As for Quarantine, I can only say that it was good. I can definitely see how that situation would indeed be terrifying, and Jennifer Carpenter did an outstanding job showing unbridled fear. Perhaps my expectations were a bit high, or perhaps my nausea was affecting my judgment.
I just know that I still want to see [REC} even more than ever now. :-)


Jason