REC 4: Apocalypse

Plot

The film opens with the GEOs sent in to recover Angela. They begin setting bombs all over the apartments, but when theyre ambushed by the infected Manu and the old man, they then kill them off and kill the officers infected as well. They then hear Angelas screams for help and tell her it is time to get out.

Angela wakes up in a room where Doctor Ginard is performing tests on her. He asks her if she remembers anything and she says no. Ginard takes a blood sample to make sure shes clean. A GEO, Guzman, finds an elderly lady, who is revealed to be the only survivor of the events of the third film. He meets up with his partner, Lucas. Angela attempts to escape the lab, and runs into Guzman. Both discover they are on a boat. Doctor Ricarte and the soldiers tell them that the situation is under control as Angelas blood returned clear of any infection.

Guzman is introduced to Captain Ortega, whos making his last voyage, and Nick, whos in charge of com-apps. Nick is trying to recover the footage from Angelas camera. Later that night, a blackout occurs. Guzman finds Angela walking in the hallways of the ship. She claims to have gotten scared and Guzman keeps her wandering a secret. The next afternoon, Angela meets Nick, whos a huge fan of hers. He shows her the tape and Angela begins to remember Tristana Medeiros. Nick also sends the file to the labs for them to look over.

Ricarte and his team discover that their test subject, an infected monkey, escaped during the blackout, with Ricarte detecting that somebody let it loose. The monkey attacks and infects the ships cook. Their blood contaminates the ships food supply, which infects most of the crew through ingestion. After unsuccessfully testing an antidote on the cook, they leave Angela, Guzman, Lucas and the old woman in the cafeteria and it turns out Lucas took a sample of blood from the building and knows that the people in charge are the Vatican. After they arm themselves with knives and kill two infected men and a monkey, the old woman is separated and Lucas volunteers to find while Guzman and Angela go to the Captain and Nick for help.

Ricarte gives up with nothing left to do to stop the infection and then decides to pursue the “protocol.� Just before doing so, his assistant informs him of receiving the uploaded footage. Ricarte witnesses Tristana inserting a worm-like parasite into Angela. He attempts to extract the parasite by forcing surgery on Angela, who pleads that she doesnt know what hes talking about, but before an incision can be made, the captains assistant who is now infected breaks in and bites Ricartes assistant which allows Angela to escape. Ricarte and his team then go to search for Angela but them seals himself away after the cook is released and attacks his team only to be attacked by Angela, who bites him, telling him to scan his blood and see for himself that he is mistaken. Guzman, Lucas and Nick then try to find weapons and a way to restart the ship, Nick then tell them that Angela is alive so Guzman goes to find her while Lucas and Nick head to the boiler room. Ricarte proves Angela theory when his analysis returns negative. Still, Ricarte is convinced that Angela is tricking them so Guzman asks Angela if she is, but then she asks Guzman if he has been tricking them all along. Its revealed that Angela passed the parasite into Guzman during her rescue. Ricarte then sets the ships to self-destruct and escapes while Guzman traps Angela below.

Lucas is then killed by the infected in the boiler room and Nick finds Ricarte, who has a lifeboat. Nick asks for Angela but Ricarte tells him shes as good as dead. Nick knocks him out, takes the lifeboat and searches for her. He later finds her, and both kill the infected monkeys with a boat-motor. They hide from the infected in the cafeteria and then are attacked by Guzman. Possessed by the parasite, the controlling Guzman, attempts to reinstate itself into Angela but she kills him with a fishing pole thanks to Nick. Angela and Nick leave the boat as all the infected chase after them. Angela jumps into the ocean and Nick follows, escaping as the ship explodes. Underwater, the Parasite gains consciousness and dives into a fishs mouth.

During the credits, Angela and Nick are shown in a cab, having made it home.

Cast

Production

On 3 May 2010, Bloody Disgusting announced that "...Filmax will produce two new [REC] films in the next couple of years called [REC] 3: Genesis and [REC] 4: Apocalypse with the same directors as the first two films". Genesis was released on 30 March 2012. It was directed by the Co-founder of the REC franchises, Jaume Balaguero, who co-wrote the script along Manu Diez. Carlos Fernandez, Julio Fernandez and Alberto Marini returned 4th time as executive producers.

In an interview with Fangoria, director Balaguero stated that the film would not have an apocalyptic style presumed by its title, stating, "All of the movies in the [REC] series have the same budget, so you’re not really going to see big scenes of Barcelona full of zombies; they’re just not intended that way. There has to be a story that’s controlled and strong." Apocalypse is set to follow the events of the second film, and will not be made in the "found footage" style. Production was scheduled to begin in 2013. At the 2012 Sitges Film Festival, it was announced the film would have its world premiere there in October 2013. An announcement trailer was released in late November, confirming the return of Manuela Velasco.

However, in early May 2013, Balaguero stated that the films production had been delayed and the film would now premiere sometime in mid-2014, but did confirm that Manuela Velasco would be starring in the fourth film. Teaser posters and an updated premise were released early May. Filming began on 13 July 2013 in Gran Canaria, aboard a Russian merchant navy ship. A theatrical trailer for the film was released in April 2014.

Soundtrack

The score soundtrack was composed by Arnau Bataller.

1. "Countdown" (2:17)
2. "Inside the House" (3:50)
3. "The Medeiros Girl" (3:08)
4. "First Attack" (2:20)
5. "Security Gates" (2:24)
6. "The Infection, Pt. 1" (2:50)
7. "Fighting" (3:45)
8. "Recovering the Tape" (2:00)
9. "The Infection, Pt.2" (3:13)
10. "Nick the Hero" (3:36)
11. "Its a Parasite" (4:57)
12. "Angelas Show" (5:36)
13. "Escaping" (2:25)
14. "Nick the Hero (Reprise)" (1:44)

Reception

The film has received mostly mixed-to-positive reviews with some praising the return of Manuela Velasco and the dark tone of the original movies. Spanish website ALT104 gave the film a mixed review, claiming that the film proves to be a worthy sequel to the franchise, but a weak way to end the series.

Release

The film premiered on September 9, 2014 on the Toronto International Film Festival and screened on Sitges Film Festival on 3 October 2014. Entertainment One released the film March 2, 2015 on Blu-ray and DVD, the Blu-disc featured the Making-of feature "The Making of [REC] Apocalypse" in the United Kingdom. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release the film on April 14, 2015 in the United States, as direct to video production.

Companion book

REC: El Libro Oficial is a companion book to the films, which contains several behind-the-scenes pictures, storyboards, and production stills. The book also offers some insight into the series overall mythology and provides answers to questions left unanswered by the films. It was released in Spain on October 2014.