[𝙍𝙀𝘾]⁴: 𝘼𝙋𝙊𝘾𝘼𝙇𝙔𝙋𝙎𝙀

[REC]⁴: Apocalypse (2014) brings the blood-soaked, virus-ridden saga to a grim and explosive conclusion. Directed once again by franchise co-creator Jaume Balagueró, this fourth installment ditches the found-footage format that defined the series in favor of a more traditional cinematic approach—while still delivering claustrophobic tension, gruesome visuals, and a desperate race against time.

The film picks up directly after the events of [REC]², with TV reporter Ángela Vidal (Manuela Velasco) rescued from the infected apartment building in Barcelona. Unbeknownst to her rescuers, the evil inside her has not been left behind. She awakens aboard a massive, isolated cargo ship that has been repurposed into a floating quarantine facility. As scientists work to uncover the origin of the deadly demonic virus, the ship itself becomes a new prison—one that’s about to turn into a floating hell.

The shift from found footage to a slicker, more traditional shooting style is noticeable and may divide fans. While the earlier entries thrived on raw immediacy and panic, [REC]⁴ trades that for a more action-horror tone, reminiscent at times of Resident Evil or Alien. Still, the film retains its sense of dread, using the ship’s narrow corridors, flickering lights, and isolated ocean setting to amplify the tension.

Manuela Velasco returns as Ángela, bringing a weary but resilient energy to her role. Her character, once a terrified outsider, now carries the franchise’s emotional and thematic weight. Her arc—from survivor to possible carrier to reluctant hero—anchors the film, even as it dives into scientific conspiracies, bio-engineering, and demonic possession.

The horror here is more physical than metaphysical. Infected hosts burst into violent, frenzied attacks. The gore is intense, with a return to practical effects that make the violence feel tangible. There's less focus on religious horror this time, with the script leaning more into outbreak-thriller territory, though hints of the original possession roots remain.

As a conclusion to the franchise, [REC]⁴ is satisfying in scope, even if it abandons some of the eerie mystery that made the original so chilling. It offers answers, closure, and one last desperate battle for survival—but trades some of the franchise’s uniqueness for accessibility.

While not as terrifyingly innovative as the original [REC], Apocalypse is a solid finale that honors the series’ legacy and gives its heroine the ending she deserves—bloody, battered, but not broken.