‘REC’ is a 2007 found footage / horror film, which starts of as Angela, a Spanish TV presenter, recording footage for her program “While you sleep” which shows the night lives of different public services (in this case, the fire department). Events take a horrific turn as the firemen, Angela, her cameraman Pablo, and residents of an apartment block are locked inside by the government, as they try to escape the infected people who are in a zombie-like frenzy.
Media Representations:
Protagonist Angela – female television reporter. Initially quite conventional as far as female presenters go: attractive, confident and good at her job.
As it becomes apparent that there is a crisis she initially is shown panicking (stereotypical) but then becomes more confident in the situation; for example, ordering her cameraman to continue filming, despite what the government authorities say.
No other major representations, apart from government authorities shown to be negative: oppressive and conspiring; quarantining the building, trying to stop the filming and even lying to the public about the nature of events inside the building.
Media Language and Forms:
Mise-en-scene:
Starts in the fire department building, as the setting of the fictional program.
Major events transpire in the interior of the apartment complex.
Set in an everyday environment, but dark and claustrophobic to add to the horror.
Normal everyday costumes are used for most people, but uniforms to show government workers such as the police men and men in bio-hazard suits.
Attacked/Possessed/Infected people seen are covered in blood and have obviously been attacked by something.
Title slides briefly outline narrative (“They came here to do their job” “Run” “Escape” “Survive!”).
In the final shot, Angela is sobbing, her appearance is bedraggled and messy showing that she is distressed and has suffered an ordeal, the title sequence being straight after this leaves her fate unknown.
Sound:
Non-Diegetic soundtrack is really quiet and only used minimally for building tension.
Most of the sound is diegetic, i.e. dialogue, and the people within the apartment conversing and moving around.
Amplified voices of government officials and helicopters are heard from the outside.
Bangs heard occasionally for casing fright in the audience.
Dialogue becomes increasingly panicked as the trailer goes on implying the horror.
Screeches of the possessed/infected people as they attack are played when they are shown onscreen suddenly to cause a quick shock and fear as they are quite unnatural, horrific sounds.
Editing:
Montage editing – as it is giving an overview of the events and narrative of the film.
Slow initially implying how it is initially an average night.
Once events take a turn for the worse editing becomes more fast paced, often using match-cut on sound, (i.e. there is a sudden bang, then the camera cuts to a handheld shot of one of the infected people running to the camera and screeching).
Some longer shots towards the end allow the audience to process how frightened the people are and instil terror in the audience.
Shorter ones when we see infected people running at the camera to add mystery to who/what the assailants in the film are, which adds to the overall mystery of the film, making audiences want to see the film more.
Cinematography:
Initially, shots which are conventional of reporting used, such as mid shots and medium close ups of Angela reporting to the camera.
As the terror begins and to give the film a genuine feeling, less conventional and seemingly accidental camera angles are used, such as a canted angle when the camera is being hidden, and shots with incorrect and apparently rushed framing, which reflects how the cameraman in unsure and scared in the situation.
Handheld camera is used throughout to give the film a realistic feeling, and to imply the fear felt by the cameraman.
Narrative:
The narrative of the film initially starts as a normal night for Angela, (a reporter) and the firemen she is making a program about, until the apartment building they enter due to an unknown emergency is overrun with people who are possessed due to infection from a disease which sends them into a murderous frenzy.
While trying to get out of the building, the people inside learn that the government have quarantined the building, and are lying on the news, making it obvious that they do not intend to let the people out, for fear of the disease spreading.
This leaves Angela, Pablo, the remaining firemen and any other people locked in the building to survive.
The mockumentary aspect comes from the fact that it was initially a recording for a television show, and the fact that it is ultimately ‘real live’ footage being recorded on the scene to show people what is happening.
Genre:
Horror is derived from the camerawork (i.e. handheld camera) and what actually happens (i.e. the infected people acting like they do).
It is also similar to some zombie horrors in the fact that the disease causes people to go into a killing frenzy, and others can be infected by the disease.
The claustrophobic setting is also a good device to build tension and fear as it causes a feeling of entrapment.
It is also a mockumentary because the footage is portrayed as being real, and it has many aspects such as a presenter (even as the crisis worsens she is shown in the trailer as telling the camera what is going on, and is determined to get it all on tape), and even starts off in the premise of a reality television show.
Also, Manuela Velasco (who portrays Angela,) worked as a TV presenter, which means she knows how best to present television, which means that she can effectively play a presenter, giving her character realism. This is similar to how Ghostwatch (1992) used real television personalities (such s Sarah Greene and Michael Parkinson) which added to the realism and overall horror created.
Media Institutions:
The fact that it is a trailer means that the main institution being advertised is the film itself, shown in the logo at the end ([.REC])
In this trailer, due to wanting to keep authenticity stars are unnamed, though it still is selling the popularity and image of the ‘leading lady’, Manuela Velasco which means that the main institutions would be the film makers, the director (Jaume Balaguero), and the company ‘Filmax’ (named in the trailer).
Media Values and Ideology:
The woman in the lead role shown to be strong in the face of danger, which is conventional in survival/zombie horror (which the film has similarities to).
The film also picks upon the idea of the media lying and only portraying their version of events, and also conspiracies and Governments trying to cover up events even at the risk of innocent people dying, and lying to the public (i.e. the media reports, and telling people in the building that they will be fine).
Media Audiences:
It would be aimed at a mainstream horror audience (15-30, male and female) though initially a Spanish film, so it wouldn’t have reached the full mainstream audience.
Since then, increasing popularity, UK cinematic and DVD release and an American remake mean that it would now be attracting a larger UK audience.
Also, fans of found footage films (such as Cloverfield and The Blair Witch Project) would be attracted, as would fans of Jaume Balaguero and people who are interested in contemporary Spanish cinema.
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