Dr. Venkman Reviews: 'Quarantine'
Quarantine is a great movie to go see during the Halloween season. It was actually very quite enjoyable. This movie had everything going against it when I went to see it. First of all I hate what horror movie have turned into these days. Second, This is a remake based on a film called ‘REC'. Third, I am not a big fan of this type of documentary kind of filmmaking. It worked for ‘The Blair Witch Project' but everything since then has sucked. Yes, I was not a big fan of ‘Cloverfield'. The reason I went and saw the film is because I love going to horror movies even if there is a chance it will be bad.
This little horror film surpassed my expectations. I actually felt a sense of reality. You get a chance to get to know the characters and who they are before they are thrust into the madness that throws up all over you. The characters are believable as being average people. The acting came off as very natural, not stiff and fake. I don't normally feel it in these kinds of movies, but this one had it. The camera work was not bad either, notta whole lotta shakin goin on. There are a few shaky points, but it isn't that bad compared to a movie like ‘Cloverfield'.
The best way to describe this movie is that it is like a really amazing Halloween spook ally maze type attraction. You never know what is going to jump out in front of you from around the corner. There are some very creepy edge of your seat moments in the movie. Once the shit hits the fan the movie becomes very fun and tense. The whole time I was psyching myself out wondering what was going to jump out at the camera next. I loved the tone of the film though. The apartment that it was set in was a genuinely creepy place. The people that lived their were a bit odd as well but it added to the whole strangeness of everything.
The one thing I didn't like about the movie was how I kept wondering when the parts in the movie trailer were going to happen. The last shot of the movie is in the trailer and that just pissed me off that they would use the ending in the marketing of the film. But it doesn't kill the ending. I liked what happened leading up to that last shot. I just think they could have done a much better job marketing the film.
The acting in this movie was as good as it gets for a horror film. I thought everyone did a great job. Like I said I loved how natural everyone was. It was like they were genuinely afraid. Mostly from the main character Angela who is played by Jennifer Carpenter. I think she is a great actress she is also in Showtimes ‘Dexter'. She freaks right the hell out in this movie. The movie also stars Jay Hernandez and a few other people you may or may not recognize.
There is a great scene in the movie where the camera man beats to death one of the infected people with his camera so you get the camera point of view of the beating. It's pretty crazy. There is a lot of freaky shit. There is a five year old little girl that gets infected and just goes ballistic on people.
If you want to have a fun time at the movies and celebrate the Halloween season then go check out Quarantine. It was a fun movie to watch. Whatever you end up seeing always remember to enjoy your time at the movies.
- Dr. Venkman