[REC]

The original 2007 film [REC] is a Spanish horror movie spoken entirely in Spanish, featuring actors like Manuela Velasco. An American found-footage remake titled Quarantine was released just a year later in 2008 for audiences who prefer English. Purists generally recommend watching the original Spanish version by Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza for the most authentic and terrifying experience.

The infection in [REC] is heavily implied to be a biological mutation of a demonic possession, tied to an isolated girl found in the penthouse of the Barcelona apartment block. The virus spreads through bites and saliva, causing extreme aggression in its hosts, similar to traditional zombies. The film expertly blends biological outbreak horror with deeply rooted religious and supernatural elements.

The 2008 American film Quarantine is extremely similar to [REC] and recreates many of its most iconic scares, but it is not a strict shot-for-shot remake. Quarantine alters some of the religious mythology present in the Spanish original, leaning more heavily into a standard rabies-like infection. Most critics agree that the original [REC] is superior in terms of tension, pacing, and its terrifying climax.

The original [REC] movie spawned three direct sequels, completing a quadrilogy of found-footage horror films. [REC] 2 picks up immediately after the events of the first film, while [REC] 3: Genesis branches off to a wedding, and [REC] 4: Apocalypse returns to the original protagonist on a quarantined ship. Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza directed the first two films together before splitting duties for the final sequels.