REC 4: Apocalypse

REC 4: Apocalypse

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jaume Balagueró
Produced by Julio Fernández
Written by
  • Jaume Balagueró
  • Manu Diez
Starring
Music by Arnau Bataller
Cinematography Pablo Rosso
Edited by David Gallart
Production
company
Distributed by Filmax
Release dates
  • 9 September 2014 (TIFF)
  • 31 October 2014
Running time
 95 minutes
Country Spain
Language Spanish
Box office $3.7 million[1]

REC 4 (stylized as [REC]4 subtitled in some countries as Apocalypse[2][3]) is a 2014 Spanish horror film, and the fourth and final installment of the REC franchise.[4] The film is a direct sequel to REC 2, taking place immediately after the events of the second film.[5] Jaume Balagueró, the director of the first two installments, returns alongside actress Manuela Velasco, who reprises her role of the imperiled reporter Ángela Vidal.[6] The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2014 and screened at the 2014 Sitges Film Festival on 3 October, before being released in Spain on 31 October.

The film was released in the United States by Magnet Releasing on 2 January 2015, both theatrically and on VOD.[7]

Plot

The film opens with the GEOs sent in to recover Ángela. They begin setting bombs all over the apartments, but when they're ambushed by the infected tenants, they kill them off. They then hear Ángela's screams for help.

Ángela wakes up in a room where Doctor Ginard is performing tests on her. He asks her if she remembers anything and she says no. Ginard takes a blood sample to make sure she's clean. A GEO, Guzman, finds an elderly lady, who is revealed to be the only survivor of the events of the third film. He meets up with his partner, Lucas. Ángela attempts to escape the lab, and runs into Guzman. Both discover they are on a boat. Doctor Ricarte and the soldiers tell them that the situation is under control as Ángela's blood returned clear of any infection.

Guzman is introduced to Captain Ortega, who's making his last voyage, and Nick, who's in charge of com-apps. Nick is trying to recover the footage from Ángela's camera. Later that night, a blackout occurs. Guzman finds Ángela walking in the hallways of the ship. She claims to have gotten scared and Guzman keeps her wandering a secret. The next afternoon, Ángela meets Nick, who's a huge fan of hers. He shows her the tape and Ángela begins to remember Tristana Medeiros. Nick sends the file to the labs.

Ricarte and his team discover that their test subject, an infected monkey, escaped during the blackout, with Ricarte detecting that somebody let it loose. The monkey attacks and infects the ship's cook. Their blood contaminates the ship's food supply, which infects most of the crew through ingestion.

After unsuccessfully testing an antidote on the cook, Ricarte gives up and decides to pursue the “protocol.” Just before doing so, his assistant informs him of receiving the uploaded footage. Ricarte witnesses Tristana inserting a worm-like parasite into Ángela. He attempts to extract the parasite by forcing surgery on Ángela, who pleads that she doesn't know what he's talking about, but before an incision can be made, an infected Ortega breaks in. Ricarte seals himself away but is attacked by Ángela, who bites him, telling him to scan his blood and see for himself that he is mistaken. Ricarte proves her theory when his analysis returns negative. Still, Ricarte is convinced that Ángela is tricking them. It's revealed that Ángela passed the parasite into Guzman during her rescue. Guzman traps Ángela below.

Nick finds Ricarte, who has a lifeboat and has set the ship to self-destruct. Nick asks for Ángela but Ricarte tells him she's as good as dead. Nick knocks him out and searches for her. He finds her, and both kill the infected monkeys with a boat-motor. They are attacked by Guzman. Possessed by the parasite, by the controlling Guzman, attempts to reinstate itself into Ángela but she kills Guzman. Ángela and Nick leave the boat as all the infected chase after them. Ángela jumps into the ocean and Nick follows, escaping as the ship explodes. Underwater, the Parasite gains consciousness and dives into a fish's mouth.

During the credits, Ángela and Nick are shown in a cab, having made it home.

Cast

Production

On 3 May 2010, Bloody Disgusting announced that "...Filmax will produce two new [REC] films in the next couple of years called [REC] 3: Genesis and [REC] 4: Apocalypse with the same directors as the first two films".[8] Genesis was released on 30 March 2012. It was directed by the Co-founder of the REC franchises, Jaume Balagueró, who co-wrote the script along Manu Diez.[9] Carlos Fernández, Julio Fernández and Alberto Marini returned 4th time as executive producers.[10]

In an interview with Fangoria, director Balagueró stated that the film would not have an apocalyptic style presumed by its title, stating, "All of the movies in the [REC] series have the same budget, so you’re not really going to see big scenes of Barcelona full of zombies; they’re just not intended that way. There has to be a story that’s controlled and strong." Apocalypse is set to follow the events of the second film, and will not be made in the "found footage" style. Production was scheduled to begin in 2013. At the 2012 Sitges Film Festival, it was announced the film would have its world premiere there in October 2013. An announcement trailer was released in late November, confirming the return of Manuela Velasco.

However, in early May 2013, Balagueró stated that the film's production had been delayed and the film would now premiere sometime in mid-2014, but did confirm that Manuela Velasco would be starring in the fourth film. Teaser posters and an updated premise were released early May. Filming began on 13 July 2013 in Gran Canaria,[11] aboard a Russian merchant navy ship.[12] A theatrical trailer for the film was released in April 2014.[13]

Soundtrack

REC 4

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Film score by Arnau Bataller
Released October 28, 2014
Genre Soundtracks
Film scores
Length 44:05
Label Screamworks Records

The score soundtrack was composed by Arnau Bataller.[14]

  1. "Countdown" (2:17)
  2. "Inside the House" (3:50)
  3. "The Medeiros Girl" (3:08)
  4. "First Attack" (2:20)
  5. "Security Gates" (2:24)
  6. "The Infection, Pt. 1" (2:50)
  7. "Fighting" (3:45)
  8. "Recovering the Tape" (2:00)
  9. "The Infection, Pt.2" (3:13)
  10. "Nick the Hero" (3:36)
  11. "It's a Parasite" (4:57)
  12. "Angela's Show" (5:36)
  13. "Escaping" (2:25)
  14. "Nick the Hero (Reprise)" (1:44)

Reception

The film has received mostly mixed-to-positive reviews with some praising the return of Manuela Velasco and the dark tone of the original movies. Spanish website ALT104 gave the film a mixed review, claiming that the film proves to be a worthy sequel to the franchise, but a weak way to end the series.[15][16][17]

Release

The film premiered on September 9, 2014 on the Toronto International Film Festival[18] and screened on Sitges Film Festival on 3 October 2014.[19] Entertainment One released the film March 2, 2015 on blu-ray and DVD,[20] the Blu-disc featured the Making-of feature "The Making of [REC] Apocalypse" in the United Kingdom.[21] Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release the film on April 14, 2015 in the United States, as direct to video production.

Companion book

REC: El Libro Oficial is a companion book to the films, which contains several behind-the-scenes pictures, storyboards, and production stills. The book also offers some insight into the series' overall mythology and provides answers to questions left unanswered by the films. It was released in Spain on October 2014.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "REC 4: Apocalypse (2015)". Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Aullidos (31 October 2014). "REC 4". Aullidos.COM. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Aullidos. "Entrevista Jaume Balagueró REC 4". Aullidos.COM. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Balaguero's [REC]4: Apocalypse!". Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  5. ↑ "Fantastic Fest '11 Exclusive: Balaguero Talks Rec 3 and Rec 4". Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  6. ↑ "The Teaser Trailer for REC 4: Apocalypse is Upon Us". Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  7. ↑ "Magnet Acquires '[REC]4: Apocalypse'! -". bloody-disgusting.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "'Rec' Directors Return for Not One, But TWO Sequels!!!". Bloody-disgusting.com. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "REC 4: Apocalypse Character Videos Offer a Quick Fix". Dread Central. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Exclusive Reveal: UK DVD/Blu-ray Trailer for [REC] Apocalypse". Dread Central. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "[REC 4] Apocalypse Started Filming Today!!". Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  12. ↑ "Behind The Scenes Of '[REC] 4: Apocalypse' With Manuela Velasco!". Bloody Disgusting. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  13. ↑ "The Apocalypse Commences in a New Trailer for REC 4: Apocalypse". Beyond Hollywood. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "Amazon.com: Rec 4 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Arnau Bataller: MP3 Downloads". amazon.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  15. ↑ Dennis Harvey. "‘[REC] 4: Apocalypse’ Review: Spanish Horror Franchise Bounces Back - Variety". Variety. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "[TIFF '14 Review] Dull and Pointless '[REC]4' Is a HUGE Letdown -". bloody-disgusting.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "REC 4: Apocalipsis". Hipertextual. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  18. ↑ Toronto International Film Festival. "TIFF.net - [REC]4 Apocalypse". TIFF. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  19. ↑ John Hopewell. "Sitges Festival Opens With ‘[REC] 4 Apocalypse’". Variety. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "Exclusive New UK Clip Ushers in the [REC] Apocalypse". Dread Central. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "The [REC] Apocalypse Arrives in the UK this March". Dread Central. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "[REC] El libro oficial". PlanetadeLibros. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.

External links