[Rec] 2

Picking up just moments after the events in 2007's [Rec], this 2009 sequel to the Spanish contagion chiller fires up the same shaky-cam scare engine that made its predecessor so nerve-rattling, while expanding on a hint of supernatural ambiguity dropped at the tail end of the first picture. This time, viewers accompany a special police unit into the contaminated building as they attempt to control the viral outbreak that turned the occupants into bloodthirsty lunatics. There's an official from the Ministry of Health along for the ride, but he's soon revealed to be a man of the cloth–and the mission turns from containment to a hunt for the young girl who was the source of the outbreak. What follows is the same high-octane POV terrorfest that made [Rec], as well as its American remake, Quarantine, one of the most heart-stopping horror titles of the new millennium; the exploration of the virus's possible diabolical origins may not sit well with audiences hoping for simple zombie/virus action, though it does provide for some genuinely shocking moments, as well as a surprise return from one of the original [Rec] cast. Writer-directors Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza again prove that they're among the most inventive and energetic filmmakers working in the genre; two sequels are reportedly already in the works. –Paul Gaita