[REC] 2

3.4

A film entirely succumbed to sequelitis, it attempts to out-do the original in every aspect. More cameras, high budget, more gore, more twists. The result improves upon the pacing and wastes little time getting to the violence but ends up feeling vapid and empty. The original's successful use of cinéma vérité is trampled upon by the addition of multiple camera cross-cutting. It never stays on a single camera long enough to place the viewer in a specific setting so the shoddy camerawork serves little purpose.

The overly-complex camera device hints that the filmmakers are bored with the concept this time around and strive to throw in as many new ideas as possible to liven things up. A completely reestablished system of zombie rules, religious overtones and child protagonists all weaken what was a strong, simple concept to begin with. The scares take a backseat to a luke warm plot that builds upon the closing moments of the first film. Every choice feels more deliberate and heavy-handed as we move further away from the magic of the previous installment.

After a meaningless child-centric second act shows off the film's multiple perspectives, the film repairs a little of the damage in its closing minutes. A clever plot convenience is used to get the night-shot gimmick back, which ups the fright level for a minute or two. A lumbering plot twist anyone could see coming closes the film and by this point the lightning in the bottle of the original has been replaced with a cheap nightlight.