Quarantine
Director John Erick Dowdle helped write the screenplay in this adaptation of the 2007 Spanish film [Rec] by relocating the story to Los Angeles where a reporter (Angela, played by Jennifer Carpenter from 2005’s Exorcism of Emily Rose) has been assigned to shadow some firefighters with her camera operator (Steve Harris.) We spend the setup meeting the firefighters as they banter with the reporter, making us comfortable and relaxed. Then the call comes concerning an elderly woman locked in her apartment, where the other residents say they heard screams. The firefighters, with the reporter in tow, arrive to find two police officers already on the scene and together they enter the apartment, with Angela shouting to her camera operator, “Film everything!” They discover the old woman foaming at the mouth and covered in blood. Soon, all hell breaks loose. One thing that works well is the contrast between the setup and the chaos at the apartment building, where we spend most of the film wondering, “What the hell is going on?” And I mean that in a good way because the tension rises with every minute as the building is sealed, helicopters buzz overhead and SWAT warns the residents from loud speakers to stay inside the building. I actually felt like one of the residents—trapped and terrified of what was to come next. Of course, I do need to warn you that this is yet another film viewed through a hand held camera similar to The Blair Witch Project and the more recent Cloverfield. So expect the camera shakes and out of focus shots, which did make me a bit dizzy at times. Of course, I could argue it drew me into the film experience, but I will leave that for you to decide. The attention to details in the sets made me take notice because it appeared that we were inside an old Los Angeles apartment building. Even the lighting and music were spooky, threatening and claustrophobic, adding to the terror. Little details, like the multinational residents of the building, also added to the realism. Quarantine is definitely spooky and I am happy for the pre-Halloween release, because it might have been lost among the other holiday films. Quarantine is a must see for horror fans, because as Stephen King once said, “Sometimes the monsters get you!”

Queen of the Damned
When the vampire Lestat starts a rock and roll band, the other vampires want to stop him, and so do I. Although the film had some decent vampire effects: fast moves, flying, glowing eyes, and neat exploding deaths, the lack of any significant story reminded me of the undead themselves: no pulse, no life. Rumor has it this film was originally destined for a "straight to video" life but was resurrected for theaters after Aaliyah's untimely death. May she rest in peace! Rent "Interview with the Vampire."