Year: 2008
Runtime: 89 min
Language: English
Director: John Erick Dowdle
Budget: $12M
While spending a night at a Los Angeles fire station to do a TV report, a reporter and her cameraman discover a disturbing outbreak in a nearby apartment building. Residents are viciously attacked, and the pair find themselves trapped with a group of desperate survivors. Cut off from the outside world, they struggle to survive while questioning the silence and unsettling actions of the CDC. They must uncover the truth behind the mysterious outbreak and fight to escape.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Quarantine yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Quarantine (2008), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Angela Vidal, portrayed by Jennifer Carpenter, along with her cameraman Scott Percival, played by Steve Harris, embarks on a thrilling journey to film a report at a Los Angeles fire station during the night shift. The duo soon meets firefighters Fletcher and Jake, who are at the ready for any emergency.
When a medical emergency at an apartment complex arises, they spring into action under the guidance of Yuri, the building manager. Following the sounds of prior screams, they find themselves at the apartment of Mrs. Espinoza. Upon arrival, chaos ensues as Mrs. Espinoza, in a frenzied state, bites police officer James, played by Andrew Fiscella. In a frantic attempt to secure the scene, Fletcher is involved in a horrifying accident that leaves him severely injured, while Danny, portrayed by Columbus Short, is forced to take drastic measures against the now dangerous Espinoza.
As the situation escalates, it becomes apparent that the building is entirely sealed off, leaving everyone trapped inside. Communication lines are cut, and the group is left in a state of uncertainty. During a brief pause, Angela interviews Briana, the daughter of two tenants, who shares unsettling news about her sick dog, Max. Symptoms that mirror rabies arise, leading to chilling theories from Lawrence, a veterinarian.
Introduced into the mix are Bernard and Sadie, who engage with Angela as tensions rise. When Fletcher becomes more aggressive, an attempt to sedate him leads to a series of harrowing events that shake the entire group to their core. They discover that information on the current crisis is being manipulated, deepening their fears.
As they navigate this horror, the sudden darkness unveils terrifying truths. Briana transforms into an infected danger, culminating in a violent outbreak where trusted allies turn into threats. The scattered group goes on a desperate hunt for answers, embarking on a search through the building and confronting the appalling reality of the infection’s origins.
The story pivots sharply as they enter an attic filled with ominous clues about a doomsday cult linked to a deadly virus. Tensions peak when an emaciated figure emerges, leading to a heart-pounding confrontation. As Angela struggles to maintain control over the situation, panic reaches its zenith when Scott becomes a victim of the terrifying fate that awaits them in the creeping darkness.
Through sheer terror and survival instinct, the line between sanity and madness blurs in this unsettling tale where every choice could mean life or death.
Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 18:47
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
First-person perspectives of ordinary people fighting for survival against overwhelming threats.If the visceral, first-person terror of Quarantine gripped you, explore more found footage survival horror movies. These films place you directly in the action, using shaky cameras and a documentary aesthetic to create an intense, realistic, and deeply unsettling viewing experience.
Stories in this thread often begin with a mundane situation that rapidly escalates into chaos, told through the lens of a character's camera. The narrative is propelled by a desperate need to survive and document the truth, leading to a raw, unfiltered account of horror.
Movies are grouped here for their shared use of the found footage aesthetic to amplify tension and realism. They prioritize immersive, subjective experiences over polished storytelling, making the viewer feel like a participant in the unfolding nightmare.
Stories of groups trapped in confined spaces during a horrific, contagious outbreak.For viewers who enjoyed the trapped-in-a-building terror of Quarantine, this section features similar claustrophobic outbreak thrillers. These movies focus on the psychological and physical horror of being sealed in with a contagious, madness-inducing threat, where the walls close in as quickly as the infection spreads.
The narrative pattern involves a group of people becoming trapped in a single location—a building, bunker, or vehicle—as a mysterious and violent outbreak occurs. The plot focuses on their desperate attempts to understand the threat, survive each other, and escape, often culminating in a bleak realization of their hopeless situation.
These films are united by their core premise: confinement during a biological crisis. They share a mood of intense paranoia, claustrophobia, and the visceral fear of infection, exploring how people break down under extreme pressure in an inescapable environment.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Quarantine in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Quarantine is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Quarantine with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Quarantine. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Quarantine that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Quarantine: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Quarantine that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Quarantine (2008) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Quarantine (2008) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Quarantine (2008) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Quarantine – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
REC (2007) Full Summary & Key Details
Cabin Fever (2003) Full Summary & Key Details
Outbreak (1995) Full Movie Breakdown
Doomsday (2008) Full Summary & Key Details
Monsters (2010) Movie Recap & Themes
Cabin Fever: Patient Zero (2014) Movie Recap & Themes
[REC] 4: Apocalypse (2015) Full Movie Breakdown
Quarantine 2: Terminal (2011) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Pandemic (2016) Full Summary & Key Details
[REC] (2007) Detailed Story Recap
Quarantine (1989) Complete Plot Breakdown
Who’s With Me? (2021) Movie Recap & Themes
Nest (2021) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Quarantine (1968) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Adrenalin: Fear the Rush (1996) Full Movie Breakdown