Rec (2007 film)

“Rec” is the gold standard for found footage films. Like “The Blair Witch Project”, it successfully conveys what the surviving footage of a supernatural event would look like, but unlike “Blair Witch”, “Rec” knows enough to use its format to convey its thrills through unconventional means rather than abandoning the genre hallmarks altogether, all while never cheating TOO much and breaking the illusion. It means the jump scares feel earned and the threat feels real; the soundtrack of the concluding twenty minutes is basically a cacophony of screams and oh, does the effect work. Hollywood screwed up the remake, naturally.

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