Quarantine 2: Terminal Review

Quarantine 2: Terminal is a direct sequel to 2008’s Quarantine. I wasn’t even aware that there was a sequel. I always believed that the only continuation was of the foreign, Spanish version REC 2. I figured that I’d be watching Quarantine 2 in subtitles, but then I found out it is a direct-to-DVD sequel to the American version of the franchise. Great! But, unlike Snakes on a Plane, the film takes place both on and off the plane; so no one will be screaming “I’ve had it with this ma’fuckin rabies on this ma’fuckin plane!”

This time around, the rabies-like virus strikes on an air plane. As it is a direct sequel to the last film, one of the passenger’s on the plane is watching a video on his laptop of the coverage happening in the apartment building in Quarantine. One of the pilots of the air plane is believed to be the carrier, but it turns out to be one of the passenger’s “hamsters.” After a severe confrontation with an infected man on the plane, they receive an emergency landing to avoid a thunderstorm. Once inside the air port terminal, they are locked in that tiny section of the building. The virus spreads as the passengers and crew of the plane try to survive the outbreak of infected.

Character-wise, they’re all not too annoying. They are two pilots, two over friendly stewardesses, one really fat annoying hick, the bad boy, the abusive couple, the slutty couple who are having sex in their seat, a 13-year-old boy, an ex-marine, a cat lady, an elderly couple with neurological illnesses, and the token black man. I actually enjoyed all of the cast, except the fat hick. But, spoiler alert, he dies first so… My favorite character, hands down, is Shilah, played by Noree Victoria. She plays an ex-marine and, despite not being the main female character, is everything you’d want in a “survivor girl.”

The tension in the film is pretty good. When the first infected attacks while the plane is in air, a bunch of the passengers assist the crew in taking him down. This is a very relatable situation, minus the zombie-like attacker, especially when you think how a flight would react to a terrorist while on route to another air port. I always love when women shred the whole “weak and meek” stereotype and help the men do battle, which Shilah and Jenny (played by Mercedes Masohn) definitely do. There’s also a chase scene towards the end of the film that’s really good, too. So, fans of the exhilarating chase scenes, like myself, will get a thrill out of watching it.

While relating back to the first film, in terms of using infrared goggles to see through a tunnel, Quarantine 2 ends leaving definite room for another sequel. If writer and director John Pogue, were to return for it, I’d be all in. Quarantine 2: Terminal is currently available On Demand and is well worth the $6.99. The DVD of the film will also be released August 2, 2011.