“[Rec]” is a Spanish horror film and it’s actually the first found-footage film I’ve seen that I’ve actually enjoyed. For the first time, I was seeing a film that seemed to justify the use of the style. The whole thing is meant to be a recording for a news show and the tight corridors mean that a lot of the camera angles would probably have been pretty much the same even if it was filmed conventionally.

A television reporter (Manuela Velasco) and her cameraman follow firefighters attending a callout at an apartment building. However, they are soon trapped inside the building. There is someone or something in the building that the authorities outside do not want to get out.

Manuela Velasco is apparently an actual tv presenter in Spain so Spanish audiences may have been even more easily sucked into what’s going on in this film. There is the reporter, the cameraman, firefighters, police and the residents. I don’t really want to spoil things by explaining what else is inside the building. I will at least make it clear that whatever is that is causing the issue, is presented in an entertaining way. There is also something that appears at the end and it is legitimately unsettling.

After suffering through “Blair Witch Project”, “Cloverfield”, “Paranormal Activity” and a handful of others, I had lost all hope in ever seeing an engaging found-footage film. “[Rec]” shows that it is at least possible to do a good film in this style. While it’s nothing amazing, I was interested in what was going on and I didn’t feel the camerawork robbed me of seeing what was going on. This film was so successful that it even got a string of sequels and an American remake, titled “Quarantine”. If you like horror films then I think you should really give this film a chance.