[REC] 4: Apocalypse (2014), directed by Jaume Balagueró, is the final chapter in the acclaimed Spanish horror franchise. Picking up immediately after the chaos of the second film, it follows Ángela Vidal (Manuela Velasco), the lone survivor of the infected apartment complex, as she is extracted and taken to a high-security quarantine facility aboard a massive ship at sea.
While officials believe Ángela may hold the key to understanding or even curing the viral outbreak, she herself remains unaware of whether she has been infected. The isolated, floating lab becomes the setting for the next wave of terror, as the virus finds its way back into circulation. As scientists and military personnel scramble to contain the situation, it quickly spirals into another blood-soaked nightmare.
The film ditches the found-footage style that defined earlier entries, opting instead for a more traditional cinematic approach. Despite this shift, [REC] 4 maintains its signature intensity, delivering claustrophobic tension and grisly action. The confined setting of the ship adds to the suspense, creating a sense of no escape as the infected multiply and the crew is picked off one by one.
Velasco delivers a strong performance as Ángela, embodying both vulnerability and resilience as her character fights to survive yet again. The plot dives deeper into the origins of the virus, hinting at bioengineered roots and demonic influences—elements that tie back to the franchise’s dark mythology.
Though not as groundbreaking as its predecessors, [REC] 4: Apocalypse provides a brutal, fast-paced conclusion to the saga. It ties up key storylines while maintaining the franchise’s bleak, apocalyptic tone. With its mix of survival horror, biological terror, and action-packed sequences, the film caps off the series with a fittingly intense and unsettling finale.
