QUARANTINE

Director: John Erick Dowdle
Stars: Jennifer Carpenter, Steve Harris, Jay Hernandez, Johnathon Schaech, Columbus Short, Greg Germann, Bernard White, Dania Ramirez
Year: 2008
Rating: R

Much like Cloverfield (a better film, at least in terms of full-arc storyline), Quarantine is seen through the lens of a single camera that tells the film's terrifying story from beginning to end. In other words, prepare for a lot of shaky, jerky movement and a lot of roaming around as the camera tries to capture all that's going on. I know some viewers supposedly had trouble with this set-up in films like Cloverfield and The Blair Witch Project, so wanted to at least get that warning out of the way upfront.

That said, this is actually an entertaining, fairly scary film with a great cast. Jennifer Carpenter (the best reason to watch The Exorcism of Emily Rose) stars as Angela Vidal, and up-and-coming TV news reporter an assignment at a local fire station in New York City. Somewhat of a tomboy as a girl, Angela had wanted to be a firefighter at one point in her childhood, so when the opportunity arises to follow a set of firefighters over one overnight shift, she jumps at the chance. Along with her cameraman Scott (Steve Harris, who gives a believable performance considering he's not even on-camera for 99% of the film), Angela goes to the fire station, where she meets firemen Jake (Jay Hernandez) and George (an unrecognizable Johnathon Schaech, buried under a bushy moustache) and gets the grand tour of the entire house while the guys wait for a call. The first fifteen minutes or so of the film consist of a lot of goofing around and both men flirting with Angela ... before a 911 call takes the guys (and Angela and Scott) to a brownstone in the city, to answer a call about an elderly woman who is very sick and acting more than a little deranged.

Making it up to the woman's darkened apartment within the four-story unit, they hook up with a pair of cops and confront the sick lady - who happens to be drooling and foaming at the mouth, and also has what looks like blood on the collar of her nightgown. Now, you'd think this would be a warning to back the hell off, but the firemen and cops move in closer, pushing Angela and her cameraman back ... and in seconds all hell breaks loose when the woman grabs and begins feasting on one of the men trying to help her like a particularly hungry zombie in George Romero's latest.

Attempts to get help for the fallen man (and I won't say who it is here, no worries) - to get him out of the building and to the hospital - prove fruitless when the rescuers make it to the front door ... only to find it being barricaded and boarded up by the cops and the CDC (Center for Disease Control). The authorities are, in fact, in the process of sealing up the entire building - and it becomes really apparent, really fast, that not only are all the residents trapped in the brownstone with a potentially deadly virus ... but also with the very deadly "things" that the virus is turning their former friends and neighbors into.

The film becomes a rollercoaster ride from here, as the group of about fifteen actors try to find a way out while avoiding the rapidly increasing number of those wishing to kill them (in typical zombie faction, once bitten here you turn into one of the deranged, hungry killers yourself). Thankfully, this film isn't (in the end) the stereotypical zombie movie you sort of expect it to be, and the quality of the actors populating the film rise it above mediocrity. Jennifer Carpenter carries the film well, and with all the action seen through her and the camera's viewpoint, the tension and terror and gore remain pretty cool throughout. Columbus Short, Greg Germann, Bernard White, and Dania Ramirez are great in supporting roles, and the film definitely has enough scary moments to keep you both interested and jumping in your seat. Ken Seng's cinematography is excellent; you do get a very claustrophobic feel, being trapped in this brownstone, and the film is lit and shot for both maximum effect and thrills - never do you have trouble seeing what's going on, especially when it's jumping right in your face.

This is a remake of the Spanish film [Rec], which I now admit I am very anxious to see (supposedly it's better than Quarantine, but aren't they all?). Meanwhile, this is a fun, fairly gory, and decently scary claustrophobic little horror flick deserving of your time - if that's the kind of film you like, and can handle the POV (point of view)-type, hand-held-looking camera work. Worth seeing for the excellent ensemble cast alone. ***1/2 - Reel Cool-Reel Awesome