Keith David is cool.  He has “command presence” up the ying-yang.  His voice work is phenomenal—on par with James Earl Jones.  Keith David has acted in some cool stuff–and in some a bit “out of character”.

Keith David was a guest regular on none other than Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.  He humped it hard in Platoon (saving Sheen’s life as a bonus). He played heavy heavies in Armageddon and Behind Enemy Lines II (where he shared the screen with wicked cool Peter Coyote).  One my favorites was when he went Islam in Pitch Black.  He has done more–but I’m happy with his “guts and gravel” stage persona.

This is not a pretty movie.  It is a remake of a Spanish movie REC.  It looks a lot like an urban Blair Witch Project, but with some more sophistication.  Quarantine combines fear, mistrust, forced confinement, and a typical mixed apartment grouping in Los Angeles.  The “carriers” of the story is Angela Vidal, a bubbly late night TV reporter—young, pretty, playful and her cameraman–loyal, logical, and steady who “shadow” two firemen who are playful and yet dedicated–sort of modern day Gage and DeSoto to those of the 1970’s era.

A third of a movie is at the station house where character development takes place (and evil forces are at work beyond the walls as the night wears on).  They and a couple of cops respond to a call for help to an elderly woman who has freaked out.

The excitement is palpable the first time you see it.  Things get weird and fast.  People and animals start going demonic AND (big and) the authorities seal off the building, except for a few CDC fools in buggy suits and spooky masks.  The lighting within the apartment goes down as the night deepens.  The gang are cut-off from the outside–no cell phones, no TV.  The “We’re all gonna die” refrain grows popular as the uninfected grow fewer and more and more terrified.  Some clues emerge as to the “whys” of the night’s slaughter.

Unlike Blair Witch, Quarantine has some serious actors and play well as ordinary people pretty much caught in a hell of someone else’s making.  There are similarities to Pitch Black as the horror of darkness has been a traditional source of fear and trepidation. Angela’s and the first responders gradual loss of control is not just a cutesy horror subplot, when the cops go zombie then run if you can.

For Michael Jackson fan’s note Jermaine Jackson plays a tenant in this movie.