This Day in Horror History: QUARANTINE Was Released in 2008
The near shot-for-shot remake of the Spanish Horror it [REC], Quarantine, was released on this day in 2008. At the apex of the found-footage craze, Quarantine was a powerful mix of zombie and virus horror tropes where the terror seemed to unfold in real-time.
Though [REC] would go one to spawn 3 sequels, a sequel to Quarantine (Quarantine 2: Terminal, released in 2011) would go in a completely different direction. Poor reception for Quarantine 2 ended a potential American franchise. Still, Quarantine remains a worthy remake of [REC], and a powerful horror movie that stands the test of time. In fact, the themes explored in [REC] and Quarantine are perhaps more relevant in the age of COVID-19 than they were back in the mid-2000s.
If it’s been a while, or if you never experienced Quarantine for yourself, give the trailer and synopsis a spin below.
Synopsis:
Reporter Angela (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman Scott (Steve Harris) are doing a story on night-shift firefighters for a reality-TV program. A late-night distress call takes them to a Los Angeles apartment building, where the police are investigating a report of horrific screams. The TV team and emergency workers find an old woman, who suddenly attacks with teeth bared. What’s more, Angela and company find that the building has been sealed by CDC workers. Then the attacks really begin.
Quarantine is directed by John Erick Dowdle from a screenplay co-scribed by his brother Drew Dowdle. The borthers’ filmography also includes the horror hits Devil (2010) and As Above, So Below (2014).
Trivia:
In October 2008 Knott’s Berry Farm theme park in Buena Park, California, had a Quarantine-themed walk-through “maze” for the park’s 36th annual Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt. It was their third movie-themed Halloween Haunt maze, after Beowulf (2007) and The Grudge 2 (2006). (Source)
It took 4 hours for Doug Jones to get into his full-body prosthetic. His role required him to film for just one day. (Source)
Are you a fan of Quarantine? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.
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