A fan of the first Rec flicks,I was disappointed to find the franchise go completely off the rails for the final two in the series. Greatly enjoying the non-Rec Fragiles,I was surprised to find the BBC showing one of director Jaume Balagueró;s non-Rec titles,which led to me getting into bed.
The plot:
Left on his own in an apartment block, concierge César passes the time by slyly tormenting all the tenants. Welcoming beautiful new tenant Clara in, César soon starts playing mind games with her. Finding Clara to just brush off any attempt he makes to get under her skin, César decides to take things to the next level.
View on the film:
Slithering round the building, Luis Tosar gives an excellent,creepy performance as César, who is given a skin-crawling, covered in slime seediness by Tosar,which makes everything César says be something that can't be taken at face value. Innocently laying in her bed, sexy Marta Etura gives a very good performance as Clara, whose sunny side up attitude is gradually dimmed in doubt by Etura.
Leaving the shock & awe of the Recs,director Jaume Balagueró & Rec actor/cinematographer Pablo Rosso go for a slow-burn,sinister atmosphere,as the apartment block is given a blank surface appearance. Sneaking César into Clara's life, Balagueró builds up the anxiety with stylish two-shots,where the viewer can see César,but Clara can't. Holding back from Psycho-Thriller shocks, the screenplay by Alberto Marini finds horror in the mundane,where everything appears normal, but Marini has César subtly chip away at Clara in the background. Whilst the ending unlocks a macabre apartment, it also sadly highlights the large plot holes (such as no CCTV or Clara feeling any different) jumped over for it to be delivered,as Clara sleeps tightly next to César.
The plot:
Left on his own in an apartment block, concierge César passes the time by slyly tormenting all the tenants. Welcoming beautiful new tenant Clara in, César soon starts playing mind games with her. Finding Clara to just brush off any attempt he makes to get under her skin, César decides to take things to the next level.
View on the film:
Slithering round the building, Luis Tosar gives an excellent,creepy performance as César, who is given a skin-crawling, covered in slime seediness by Tosar,which makes everything César says be something that can't be taken at face value. Innocently laying in her bed, sexy Marta Etura gives a very good performance as Clara, whose sunny side up attitude is gradually dimmed in doubt by Etura.
Leaving the shock & awe of the Recs,director Jaume Balagueró & Rec actor/cinematographer Pablo Rosso go for a slow-burn,sinister atmosphere,as the apartment block is given a blank surface appearance. Sneaking César into Clara's life, Balagueró builds up the anxiety with stylish two-shots,where the viewer can see César,but Clara can't. Holding back from Psycho-Thriller shocks, the screenplay by Alberto Marini finds horror in the mundane,where everything appears normal, but Marini has César subtly chip away at Clara in the background. Whilst the ending unlocks a macabre apartment, it also sadly highlights the large plot holes (such as no CCTV or Clara feeling any different) jumped over for it to be delivered,as Clara sleeps tightly next to César.