Stale Popcorn

It was whilst researching for my review of the really rather phenomenally good [• REC] (you can read that love-letter of a review right here!) that I came across news that an inevitable US remake was already in the can. After discussing this with my girlfriend who was also an enormous fan of the film, we started to pull to bits everything that we knew would come with such a remake. Now, after some more clicking and scrolling around the interweb for you, I’ve managed to pull together some details on the upcoming “yank-a-fying” of a genuine modern classic within the horror genre:

Interestingly, but worryingly, it turns out that those behind [• REC] sold the remake rights before the film had already finished pre-production as a way of being able to fund the actual low-budget production. Supposedly [• REC] producers actually actively pursued remake sales as part of their funding! Maybe I shouldn’t be too harsh then? Then again…

The US version of the film has been retitled Quarantined and is set to be released this year by Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Releasing. The plot – that of a TV news reporter and her cameraman, following a fire crew on their night shift only to end up quarantined within a block of flats when an inocuous incident gets out of hand – has been retained at first glance and the flick is directed by John Erick Dowdle who also co-writes the remake with Drew Dowdle. The cast list is uninspiring to say the least – Jennifer Carpenter from TV’s Dexter, Jonathan Schaech who is in the upcoming Prom Night remake but whose highest profile gig in the last few years has been [sigh] Road House 2, Jay Hernandez of Hostel fame, Rade Serbedjija he of Eyes Wide Shut, M:I2 and Snatch fame, and finally the only other real “name” is Greg Germann who many will know from Ally McBeal but who I only recognise from his small role in Talladega Nights.

Not exactly awe-inspiring so far huh? Then again, the film doesn’t lend itself to “needing” an starry-cast. It just needs to be done right! It’s set for release in the week now known as “the-Saw-slot” here in the UK (24th October 2008) and the week before in the US.

For me, nothing will EVER match the intensity of seeing [• REC] no matter how solid a job they try and do. And just how “solid” do you think this Quarantined is actually going to be when they’re rushing it to get it into a Halloween 08 release slot?

Posted on Saturday, April 12th, 2008 at 12:20 pm under Movie News by Gazz.
Tags:Movie News

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