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Quarantine

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Quarantine (2008)

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Reviews Counted:77

Fresh:46

Rotten:31

Average Rating:5.7/10

Consensus: Quarantine uses effective atmosphere and consistent scares to stand above the crop of recent horror films.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for bloody violent and disturbing content, terror and language.

Runtime: 89 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Theatrical Release:Oct 10, 2008 Wide

Box Office: $31,691,811

Synopsis: A faithful adaptation of the 2007 Spanish film REC, QUARANTINE chronicles the outbreak of a rabies-like disease in a Los Angeles apartment building and the struggle of the unaffected residents to... A faithful adaptation of the 2007 Spanish film REC, QUARANTINE chronicles the outbreak of a rabies-like disease in a Los Angeles apartment building and the struggle of the unaffected residents to stay alive after the authorities trap them inside in an effort to contain it. Equal parts BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and 28 DAYS LATER, the film is presented through the eye of a video camera, putting the audience in the middle of the action and creating a heightened level of intensity and realism. Television reporter Angela (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman, Scott (Steve Harris), are covering the goings-on at a firehouse for a program about night shift workers. As she clowns around with two flirty firemen (Jonathan Schaech and Jay Hernandez), an alarm sounds, and a truck is dispatched--with Angela and Scott on board---to an apartment building where an old woman has seemingly lost her mind. The woman bites one of the firemen and is soon killed, but when more tenants turn up with the same disorder, it's clear that a chain reaction is occurring. Unfortunately for Angela and the rest of the uninfected residents, the authorities have quarantined the building---but she and Scott continue to document the tragic and terrifying events inside the building as those inside are one by one transformed into bloodthirsty monsters. Director John Eric Dowdle, whose film THE POUGHKEEPSIE TAPES also used a pseudo-documentary approach in detailing the crimes of a serial killer, creates a sustained level of chaos and fear that will have all but the most seasoned horror fan cowering in the corner. Though the shaky camerawork may be difficult to take for those prone to motion sickness, it--along with a complete absence of music--gives the film a startling realism and immediacy to accompany its stomach-churning descent into full-on hopelessness and dread. [More]

Starring: Jennifer Carpenter, Jay Hernandez, Columbus Short, Greg Germann

Starring: Jennifer Carpenter, Jay Hernandez, Columbus Short, Greg Germann, Steve Harris, Dania Ramirez, Rade Sherbedgia, Johnathon Schaech

Director: John Erick Dowdle

Director: John Erick Dowdle
Screenwriter: John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle
Producer: Doug Davison, Roy Lee, Sergio Aguero
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Feb 17, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Television reporter Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman (Steve Harris) are assigned to spend the night shift with a Los Angeles Fire Station. After a routine 911 call takes them to a small apartment building, they find police officers already on the scene in response to blood curdling screams coming from one of the apartment units. They soon learn that a woman living in the building has been viciously attacked by something unknown. After a few of the residents are also attacked, they try to escape with the news crew in tow, only to find that the CDC has quarantined the building. Phones, internet, televisions and cell phone access have been cut-off, and officials are not relaying information to those locked inside. When the quarantine is finally lifted, the only evidence of what took place is the news crew's videotape.
  • Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
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    Reviews for Quarantine

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    1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z)
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    Despite the Cronenbergian themes, the film is relentless and singleminded: It just wants to scare you, and it succeeds.

    Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment 2 Comments
    10/24/08
    John Beifuss
    John Beifuss
    Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

    Quarantine fails to correct some of the problems evident in its predecessor while also incorporating a few defects of its own.

    Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment 1 Comment
    10/10/08
    James Berardinelli
    James Berardinelli
    ReelViews
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    When the month's horror options boil down to a modestly clever exercise like this or yet another Saw sequel, you know you could do worse.

    Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
    10/13/08
    Geoff Berkshire
    Geoff Berkshire
    Metromix.com

    Develops into a legitimately unnerving experience.

    Full Review Source: Paste Magazine | comment Comment
    04/07/09
    Jeffrey Bloomer
    Jeffrey Bloomer
    Paste Magazine

    Quarantine isn't an awful film--just an unnecessary one. It may well be the most pointless remake since Gus Van Sant's Psycho

    Full Review Source: Mike Bracken's Horror Films | comment 1 Comment
    10/10/08
    Mike Bracken
    Mike Bracken
    Mike Bracken's Horror Films

    Despite Quarantine's theft from nearly every film in the subgenre, there are parts of the film that just plain work, no matter how much it doesn't seem like they should.

    Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | comment Comment
    10/14/08
    Tim Brayton
    Tim Brayton
    Antagony & Ecstasy

    Good news for those who missed the Spanish zombie horror [REC] when it opened here a few months back. Here comes the inevitable fast-tracked Hollywood remake, which covers the same ground without the burden of all those subtitled hysterics.

    Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
    11/21/08
    Xan Brooks
    Xan Brooks
    Guardian [UK]

    'Quarantine' is a solid horror movie and one of the better to be released this year. The last 15 minutes is hardcore suspense that redeem any cheap movie making flaws.

    Full Review Source: BET.com | comment Comment
    07/03/09
    Clay Cane
    Clay Cane
    BET.com

    Horror movie fans can enjoy the visceral experience. The core purpose %u2013 to make people jump out of their seats %u2013 is executed with intense precision.

    Full Review Source: Film School Rejects | comment Comment
    10/10/08
    Kevin Carr
    Kevin Carr
    Film School Rejects

    Quarantine, yet another pseudo-documentary horror movie, delivers the heebie-jeebies with solid acting and perfectly calibrated shocks.

    Full Review Source: New York Times | comment 1 Comment
    10/13/08
    Jeannette Catsoulis
    Jeannette Catsoulis
    New York Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Quarantine is a lucrative steal by Dowdle. The Spanish original is arguably the best vérité fright movie since The Blair Witch Project. The American version is not quite in the same league.

    Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
    11/21/08
    James Christopher
    James Christopher
    Times [UK]

    Rather too hysterical to be coherent, but it's still jittery and thoroughly unnerving

    Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
    10/15/08
    Rich Cline
    Rich Cline
    Shadows on the Wall

    Quarantine director John Erick Dowdle and co-writing brother Drew wisely stick close to the told-from-the-cameraman's point-of-view template of the terrific original.

    Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
    10/10/08
    Clark Collis
    Clark Collis
    Entertainment Weekly
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Good Halloween-type fun for the fans of adult thrillers, 'Quarantine' is a cleverly done scare flickt aht will keep you wondering who's going to get it next.

    Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment Comment
    10/23/08
    Linda Cook
    Linda Cook
    Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

    Too much information in the trailer spoiled some of the suspense of the film

    Full Review Source: jackiekcooper.com | comment 8 Comments
    10/14/08
    Jackie K. Cooper
    Jackie K. Cooper
    jackiekcooper.com

    As a visceral, camera-shuddery ride into foamy-mouthed zombie hell, it’s efficient enough — but if you’ve already seen [Rec], steer clear...

    Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment 1 Comment
    11/21/08
    Simon Crook
    Simon Crook
    Empire Magazine

    The premise isn't bad; I like the fact this hysteria happens in and around people's homes, because it's an excuse for the filmmakers to uncover secrets normally kept behind closed doors. A pity there are no great revelations here.

    Full Review Source: MovieTime, ABC Radio National | comment Comment
    12/01/08
    Jason Di Rosso
    Jason Di Rosso
    MovieTime, ABC Radio National

    Just like its forebear, this is bluntly effective exercise in first-person horror.

    Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
    11/21/08
    Daniel Etherington
    Daniel Etherington
    Channel 4 Film

    What director John Erick Dowdie has done is veer away from the supernatural atmosphere of the Spanish version and ramped up the bloodletting – it’s more gory than ghostly.

    Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
    11/21/08
    Tim Evans
    Tim Evans
    Sky Movies

    An American remake of the Spanish horror movie ‘[Rec]’ that adopts the same basic recipe, but removes any hint of flavour or texture, reducing cutting-edge Catalan cuisine to bland, bite-sized McNuggets.

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment 3 Comments
    11/21/08
    Nigel Floyd
    Nigel Floyd
    Time Out
     
     
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