Rating: 3.5 Pulses
Starring Jennifer Carpenter, Jay Hernandez
Directed by John Eric Dowdle
Rated R
With Halloween just two weeks away, the dearth of horror films in theaters is upsetting, and the only chance for gore-hounds to sate their bloodlust lies squarely on the shoulders of Quarantine, a film shot both effectively and annoyingly in the vein of The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield.
The film opens with Angela rehearsing her intro for a human interest piece on a day in the life of a firefighter. Boredom ensues as she takes us through the station, a glorified frat house, where the characters’ forced charms fall flat and Angela’s longing for some action mirrors our own desire for the movie to bloody get on with it.
When the alarm finally sounds, Angela and cameraman Scott tag along, tickled by the chance to film some real human suffering and heroics, constantly speaking the mantra, “Did you get the shot?” After arriving at a beautifully creepy and horribly lit apartment, they discover the reason for the call: a frightened old lady in a muumuu foaming at the mouth.
It’s not giving anything away to say that this movie evolved from the likes of 28 Days Later, et al. The infected move fast and erratically. Their craving for flesh supersedes all. You’ve seen this before and you’ll probably see this again. Remember the night-vision scene from the aforementioned movie’s sequel? Well, Quarantine has one too.
So why should you care? The characters are hollow and brainless. The film does little to expound on the social ramifications of its title. And how come two people so obsessed with filming act like they’ve never seen a movie before? Hey, this lady’s nonresponsive and foaming hungrily at the mouth. Let’s go say hi.
But, had the characters had even an ounce of intellect, the film wouldn’t have resulted in such a viscerally icky experience. The onslaught of the last two reels blocked my brain’s bitching and left it beaten and bludgeoned. The film’s relentless finale is utterly unnerving. It’s not fun, but it is effective, and the eradication of one’s remove is the dragon we all chase in the theater.
If this sounds enticing, the theater experience is a must. This one-trick pony will lose its kick on the small screen and probably even on a second viewing. For best results, watch it in a large, dark, and creepy room full of sniffling strangers.
