[REC] (2007)

So, I've been holding off of the U.S. remake, Quarantine, for months now, waiting for Netflix to ship the original Spanish film [REC]. I still haven't seen the U.S. remake, but it's hard for me to believe that it could be better or even on-par with [REC]. Manuela Velasco's performance as the reporter pulled me into the movie from the very start. There is no way Quarantine's Jennifer Carpenter could do this like Manuela Velasco. Carpenter is clunky, gangly, awkward, and, well, just not very likable in my opinion. Velasco, on the other hand, pulled me into the reality of the movie, causing me to laugh and care.

Admittedly, the film is fairly generic and follows the zombie genre closely. It isn't until the end, when a twist is thrown in, that the movie claims its place in the horror genre, but don't let that stop you; it still packs punches with heightened action throughout. Too bad it is only the last fifteen minutes or so that really sent chills down my spine, but I think this is the effect they were going for. It made me think of Audition, which is 75 minutes of tame drama, then 15 minutes of shock--though, [REC] does not go for heavy gore in its ending, and like I said, it isn't a tame drama throughout. For some, the movie may become monotonous (especially if you watch a lot of zombie/survival movies), but trust me, the ending is worth it!

Killing Ariel (2006)

The best part of this movie was the nightmare I had while sleeping through the last thirty minutes. It was a terrifying dream; the most frightened I've been in a long time. Killing Ariel tried so hard and is lame at best. The tone, acting, and visual gags reminded me of a full-length version of one of the tales from Campfire Tales (1997). If this comes on TV during an October horror movie marathon, it might be worth checking out, but don't waste a spot in your Netflix queue, or a slot in the torrent downloader.

In My Skin (2002)

Mon dieu! Once again, an over-the-top, ultra-realistic French (horror?) movie. Among the rest of the French extremism movies I've seen recently, this is at the bottom of the list, yet it stands alone and has its own tone. And that tone is disturbing to the point that I realized I had spent an hour and a half sitting on the edge of the couch with my mouth hanging wide open.

The Unborn (2009)

So much promise, so little delivery. In a word: monotony. If the exterior of a house at the start of every scene transition doesn't scream monotony, the continuous reuse of the same visual gags and cheap thrills will. And it really stinks, too, because I had high hopes for this one. I even gave the PG-13 label a chance after having seen Drag Me To Hell. But despite a few eerie visuals, which seemed misplaced in the entire context of the movie, it is simply mundane, nothing we haven't seen over and over already, worthy of omission.

Donkey Punch (2008)

This is more of a mediocre thriller than a horror movie, but it still has its merits. If you don't know what a donkey punch is, check out Urban Dictionary, an indispensable resource for urban vernacular. Supposedly, this movie is based on an "original idea" by one of the writers (it proudly boasts this information at the forefront of the ending credits), but it is a complete copy-and-paste of a hundred countless thrillers where everyone is having a good time, something tragic happens, and the group begins to divide and form deadly alliances like an unrated version of Survivor. But, like I said, it has its merits: above average acting and a few brilliant shock-gags. Worth a watch if you don't have a good book close at hand.

Frontiers (2007)

Think Texas Chainsaw Massacre mixed with Hostel, but with superb cinematography, acting, lighting, pacing, sound, and gore, as only the French seem to be able to master in the horror genre. Frontiers continues the trend of brutal French horror with high production value; and this after having seen High Tension, Martyrs, and Inside, among others. When it comes to a bloody good time, this movie is the guest of honor.

The Ruins (2008)

An entertaining, pleasantly gruesome movie that caught me by surprise. Sure, the plot has been done many times before, but this movie had some memorable moments despite the cliché. Plus, I have respect for any movie that contains the lines (and don't quote me here):

"Four American tourists don't just disappear. Someone will find us."

Dead and Breakfast (2004)

There are three types of campy horror movies, and they produce three different reactions: a mere roll of the eyes, a "hmn" executed through the nose, and actual, genuine laughter. Dead and Breakfast falls in the third category!

The Grudge 3 (2009)

Did you even know there was a third Grudge movie? No? Same here! Well, I didn't expect much, and I didn't get much. While it did offer more gore than the two preceding movies, the acting was too rigid for toleration. Boo!

Isolation (2005)

Who knew cows could be so horrifying? Had I read the synopsis, I would have probably dismissed this movie on grounds that its premises seemed lame. Boy am I glad I don't read synopses! This movie had it all: direction, story, thrills, acting, suspense, and gritty, bloody fun.