[REC] 4: Apocalypse
Magnet Releasing | Release Date: January 2, 2015
5.0
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Mixed or average reviews based on 53 Ratings
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29
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5
JohnMasterLJan 2, 2015
Rec 4 le queda grande el titulo "Apocalipsis" aplausos al editor, guionista o director de haber quitado el titulo "Apocalipsis" en la película. Ya no es mas Rec, de ser una saga de terror de origen Español, se convierte en una producción alRec 4 le queda grande el titulo "Apocalipsis" aplausos al editor, guionista o director de haber quitado el titulo "Apocalipsis" en la película. Ya no es mas Rec, de ser una saga de terror de origen Español, se convierte en una producción al estilo "Gringo" o Hollywood, es lamentable si, pero supera en todos los aspectos a la horrorosa Rec 3 de Paco Plaza, pero se queda muy corta en comparación con sus 2 primeras entregas.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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6
quincytheodoreJan 14, 2015
After the debacle of chainsaw-wielding bride, REC 4 returns to its root, partially. This one isn't shot in found footage style, although some elements are strung together to make it feel like it's the first REC. Manuela Velasco's return is aAfter the debacle of chainsaw-wielding bride, REC 4 returns to its root, partially. This one isn't shot in found footage style, although some elements are strung together to make it feel like it's the first REC. Manuela Velasco's return is a good direction, her character develops nicely and as the original protagonist it gives some nostalgic investment.

REC 4 uses dark claustrophobic setting, intense scenario, extreme gore and a touch of mystery. It's a good effort as occasionally it delivers decent thrill, although it's more of an action buzz instead of horror. REC was one of the few movies that popularized found footage genre a few years back, it's understandable that it's difficult to create the same effect without the camcorder first person point of view.

Manuela as Angela is more mature after her ordeal. How she handles different situations also affects the tone of movie. Apparently, the badass female protagonist idea hasn't been scratch entirely, since the movie often tries to portray Angela as such. This isn't completely bad, Angela can't run around scared all the time, and her more aggressive nature seems plausible as defense mechanism. She hasn't transformed into superheroine either, although sometimes I can't help but thinking she looks like she's in a Resident Evil movie.

The movie gives more time to build up tension and establish the other characters in order to set-up later altercation. First REC has consecutive bursts of scare, it never let up, but on the fourth iteration the novel sense has wear off, so the longer escalation is needed to get the vivid atmosphere. Regrettably, REC 4 only manages to achieve the violent action tone, not the intended gripping dread.

To some degree, the movie knows the limit of its horror potential or human drama, thus churning blood and gore to maximize the horror effect. A few twists here and there keep the audience guessing, but eventually it relies on action sequences on latter arc. When the movie gives the protagonist arsenal of weapon and fighting mentality, it's obvious that it opts for action.

RED 4 is a glorified action horror, it's successful in differentiating itself from horde of other same movies, mostly due to its namesake and main heroine. For those wanting the fright of original REC, it still has some leftover, but it might not be as satisfying.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
LeZeeNov 4, 2015
When the source followed straight to the isolated lab.

It looks like been ages. I know the movies (the previous three), but can't remember the scenes. A quick recap would have been helpful, but I did not do that and went ahead with this.When the source followed straight to the isolated lab.

It looks like been ages. I know the movies (the previous three), but can't remember the scenes. A quick recap would have been helpful, but I did not do that and went ahead with this. That's the reason I hate to follow television series on the broadcast which drag one season for over 6 months. This was the fourth film in the [Rec] film series and third in the story continuation after first two. The third installment was set in the parallel timeline to that before one, but off the track narration. In this, an old woman character was brought on-board to make sure the third film was not an offbeat from the series.

Except the opening few minutes, the rest of the story takes place on a moving ship. Kind of similar to 'Sector 7', though both the flicks are entirely different. The ship is used as a laboratory to develop a vaccine for the deadly disease which turns humans into the flesh eating zombies. It is protected by the armed paramilitary force. Somehow the virus breaks loose, the infection spreads out quickly through the various platforms like lab monkeys and foods. How the survivours fight to remain alive in the nowhere of the ocean is the remaining narrative. If there is a way, how they make it out that comes with the intensified gore battle between the undead and the living.

I never expected another film in the series, I thought it was a trilogy, but after seeing this I felt the idea was not that bad after all. Just like the 'Jurassic Park' movies, the fourth movie puts the franchise back on the track after the third was derailed. The first film was so good and a bit scary too, followed by another decent movie. Like I mentioned the third flick was different, but a sustainable one to the theme and title.

"I don not know what was going on,
but luckily I was not there."

This story starts off with a slow, until the third act where the pace picks up rapidly. Not scary, but towards the final sequences, it was very fast and edgy. The way it concluded, the outro scene was a hint for another film in the franchise. But in my opinion, it should have ended with three films or with this one. Hoping for a better one if there is going to be another [Rec], because my rating in numeral declining by one point following the each sequel.

I think the suspense should have maintained well. There were some tiny twists and turns on the weak movie plot, but I anticipated the final twist and it did not deliver with that effectively. I know the theme was built on the situation, not depended on prolonged story. Because the action speaks more than any kind of development to give a clean vision on happening. After all, most of the horror movies follow the same sutra, but sometimes the horror-dramas exclude it and this is not one of that.

Its a collective performance, individually, not noticeable. Because it does not follow any particular character. Though the character Angela, the television reporter was the centre of the attraction as it marks her comeback who was main in the first two films. The filmmaking was compromised, I mean it was not 'found footage' style movie as should have been. Because where this story set in does not demand such kind of cinematographical portrayal. Also avoids the dark atmosphere that used to scare us, especially the night vision screenplay was critical in the earlier two films to creep out the viewers.

The title for this installment was 'Apocalypse', but that does not make any sense what they show in the exit scene. Should have called it 'Zombie Ship' like 'Ghost Ship'. I feel it is worth a watch, only to keep updated the [Rec] film series, because if they make a phenomenal 5th movie, we don't have to go back to 4th for continuation.

6/10… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
inaneswineNov 14, 2017
After a promising beginning for the franchise with two exhilarating and frightening films, REC 3 threw the biggest cinematic spanner into the works like no other film franchise I have ever witnessed. After that, I knew that REC 4 couldn'tAfter a promising beginning for the franchise with two exhilarating and frightening films, REC 3 threw the biggest cinematic spanner into the works like no other film franchise I have ever witnessed. After that, I knew that REC 4 couldn't possibly be any worse. So it has that going for it.

REC 4 certainly is an improvement, but it's still a disappointment. What it wisely does is ditch the found-footage style completely, as opposed to the third film's disorientating switch partway through. The "comic" elements from the third film still unfortunately linger in bits and pieces, though the overall dark mood of the film works in its favour.

Yet the film doesn't seem to know what to do with itself, its plot or its characters (a warm welcome back to Manuela Velasco, by the way), and ends up being a bizarre amalgam of other sources. It's like Captain Phillips crossed with Braindead. And by the time the ending does arrive, I had sort of already wished the ship would just blow up, and bury the last of the franchise at sea where it belongs.

It's an okay film, but it exists as a patchy attempt to crawl back onto the rails. For what has been billed as the final REC film, it is most unsatisfying.… Expand
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6
HaithamBJan 7, 2015
Clearly this franchise is a cult classic. I appreciated the first "[REC]" film and what it is trying to do to the found footage genre. But this sequel, just never lives up to the so-so "epicness" it is trying to promote in its title.
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4
MarickJul 28, 2015
I expected to be more fun, but no more difference between Rec 3 .
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5
RaduAMar 23, 2019
55/100

  It was not as bad as I thought it would be (I saw it a long time ago and remembered it was bad) but it still was disappointing. The third movie was a spin-off but this continues the story of the second.   They also left the55/100

  It was not as bad as I thought it would be (I saw it a long time ago and remembered it was bad) but it still was disappointing. The third movie was a spin-off but this continues the story of the second.
  They also left the found-footage style because... I do not know. They tried to introduce new characters but I did not really care, it's not as scary as the first two and has a strange twist...
  It's not as stupid as the third ... but still not good. At least it does not feel like a parody...… Expand
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