In this episode of Horror Joy, hosts Brian Onishi and Jeff Stoyanoff continue their deep dive into found footage horror by investigating the 2007 Spanish film [REC], directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza.

The conversation explores the film's claustrophobic terror, its political nature, and its effectiveness as a groundbreaking entry in the found footage genre.

We discuss:

• The Appeal of Found Footage
• The Horror of quarantine
• Reading [REC] forward into 2025, including social and political commentary
• The joy of an effective found footage film, the use of the camera, and terrifying staircases

References:

The Pain in Spain: an analysis of horror auteur Jaume Balaguero’s films by Brian Michael Goss

Don’t Miss a Bloody Thing: [REC] and the Spanish Adaptation of Found Footage Horror by Shelagh M. Rowan-Legg

Reel Evil: A Critical Reassessment of Found Footage Horror by Xavier Aldana Reyes