[REC]³ Genesis

It's all in the title of my review. After the brilliant first two parts which made found footage style horror movies cool and full of suspense and dread, we get this overacted and over the top movie. Don't get me wrong. It's fun to see a bride in her wedding dress running with chainsaw. But scary it is most surely not. On the other hand, I can't imagine a better romantic horror movie for honeymoon, so that's something. Oh, and the whole idea of the series, you know, where everything is filmed with shaky camera? That's gone. Beginning of the movie is like that, but then it turns to a completely normal movie, at least in the way of filming. It's not that this movie isn't fun, it just isn't what you expect from an entry in this series. I give it 6/10! It isn't worst thing you can watch as a horror movie fan for fun, but it's far from excellency of the first two movies.

The first time I saw REC (2007)I was addicted to it. And I guess a lot of people because an American remake (Quarantine (2008)) was made of this Spanish horror flick. When REC 2 (2009) came out it was another smasher. Paco Plaza, one of the directors did a great job and everybody was looking forward to see REC 3 made by Paco. REC 4 Apocalypse is also on the way, normally shot by the other director of the original REC, Jaume Balagueró.

I was eager to have a watch to REC 3 Genesis but was I disappointed by it. This movie didn't involve the apartment we have seen in the previous entries. Being called 'genesis' I thought it would explain the who and what about the mutated people but it didn't. Here we have a wedding going on were suddenly one of the uncles shows rare behaviour. When he's being helped due his fall he suddenly changes into a mutated one and bites one of his helpers. From there problems starts for the party going on. But also for REC 3. Previous parts did have fast moving zombies here we have slow moving zombies, a big difference! Rec and REC 2 needed the apartment to deliver the creeps by dark corridors here we see them walk in clear light. Don't get me wrong, the movie itself isn't that bad and is a delight for gorehounds but in fact has nothing to do with REC. Only the end when the plastic is used it reminded me of REC. It's a bit like Cabin Fever 2, a flop that had nothing to do with the original one. Here we have the same.

It even has a bit of black comedy and even has a bit of humor itself. Just watch some gore scene's that will remind you of Peter Jackson's Braindead (1992).

Gore it has indeed but it's a love story with zombies walking around. The production decided to clock in on the REC success, if they only had given it another name it would be okay but to say it's a follow up, no. Only hope REC 4 moves back to the apartment.

Gore 3/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 4/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 1/5

Well where to start...I'm gob smacked that such a brilliant zombie/horror franchise has been defaced.

The film totally departs from REC 1 & 2 with the only link being that "Uncle" was bit by "Jennifer's" (Little girl from REC 1) dog which was impounded from the vets, resulting in the authorities awareness of the infection and quarantining the original building.

I'm not sure what the director was thinking with the black humour/comedy and if it was even intentional or I was laughing at the juxtaposition of mess and slapstick deaths. The camera work itself is NOT hand-held, which totally opposes the 'REC' style and therefore doesn't have the same impact of claustrophobia and paranoia. The acting however wasn't too bad and I feel sorry for Leticia Dolera & Javier Botet, but the appalling storyline and screenplay made it impossible to be a good movie.

In conclusion it's not an entirely doomed film, and is better than most zombie films, but it's just got too much to live up to with its predecessors' and is not of REC standard. I think it's safe to say the REC fans need Jaume Balagueró back! As Paco Plaza simply cannot do it on his own. - Tyron.

If you have seen the 1st and 2nd parts, you'll notice a few matching events between those previous movies and this one. It's another parallel story, not the beginning as you could read from it's title: "Genesis", instead of a genesis, you get a love story that gets caught in the middle of a zombie-possessed infestation.

At some point the shooting style changes from the hand-held camera to director's view, which although refreshing, breaks the sequel style. I think the first two parts were scary, but this one became a mix of action, gore, with a touch of comedy that also breaks the sequel style, specially some illogical behavior under stress situations. Acting was OK, special effects were not disappointing.

I think it all comes down to anticipation, I was expecting something completely horrible and awful. But I liked the links to the first film and the fact that it was probably happening at the same time. I did find myself rooting for the bride, but I do have to admit it gets a bit too silly towards the end. Still, there were parts that I enjoyed and all in all it's an okay zombie flick for casual horror evenings