I'm sure all the "foreign" horror movie lovers and REC fans have heard about this.

Fans of the franchise have brutalized this and critics haven't been too kind either.  This was directed by Paco Plaza.  The first 2 REC's were directed by Plaza and Jaume Balaguero.  Balaguero is directing the 4th installment, Apocalypse, which I think is being released later this year.

Well...what can I say?  First off, I didn't hate it by any means, but I completely understand the frustration and even anger over it, as it just isn't in the same ballpark as the first 2 classics.  It plays out much more like a standard and silly zombie movie, really.

It starts out interestingly and much in the same vein as the first 2.  All footage is from handheld cams.  But, at about the 20 minute mark, when we finally get our title on the screen, it goes in a completely different direction, ditching the handheld cams completely...and getting pretty silly and goofy as well.

It's downright strange why Plaza decided to do this.  Maybe he wanted to make a more standard movie?  I don't know.

As a zombie flick, it ain't bad.  Well, it ain't too bad.  There are some cool scenes and alot of gore, but it's all so over the top and unrealistic that as a REC film, it just doesn't work at all.

The budget seems bigger and the effects are mostly pretty good.  There are even a few good ideas but for the most part, die hard REC fans will not be happy and will be screaming for Plaza's head on a platter.

It will be very interesting to see what Balaguero does with part 4.  Hopefully, he paid attention to the reaction this got and stay truer to the REC foundation that made the franchise what it is.

You can do much worse in the zombie genre, but REC really isn't about zombies in the first place (and I guess I shouldn't call them zombies here...but they sure act and move like old school zombies), and this does tarnish the REC name, IMO.

Interested to hear what others feel.

Finally watched it last night.

Horrified, to be honest with you. Had no idea they'd decided to make a piece of shit zombie rom com instead of a Rec movie.

In context of the first two movies...the worst film I've ever seen.


If it was called Zombie Wedding and had nothing to do with the Rec series...it would be more passable, like you say. They should rebrand it and forget it ever happened.

Gutted. Loved the first two and was gripped by the ongoing story.

Saw this a few months ago. Bloody trash. Literally. First two were pretty good. This is just awful, on every level and in every way. No redeeming features whatsoever.

R

Yep. Incredible they released it, tbh.

What the hell was the director thinking?

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films What the hell was the director thinking?

Payday.

Sheeet! I didn't even know this existed until I seen this thread.

Loved the first one and thought they took it in a really interesting direction with the sequel in terms of the origins behind the virus, cool idea. Which is no easy task since these kind of films tend to become infinitely less interesting when its time to explain things.

Disappointed to hear the third is not up to much but will definitely check it out on the strength of the first two.

Quoted from Colkurtz8 Sheeet! I didn't even know this existed until I seen this thread. Loved the first one and thought they took it in a really interesting direction with the sequel in terms of the origins behind the virus, cool idea. Which is no easy task since these kind of films tend to become infinitely less interesting when its time to explain things. Disappointed to hear the third is not up to much but will definitely check it out on the strength of the first two.

Don't.


It tells you nothing new, and it's an appalling mess.

Pretend it doesn't exist and hope Rec 4 "Rec..tify's the situation.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Pretend it doesn't exist and hope Rec 4 "Rec..tify's the situation.

Thanks for the heads up and I appreciate the pun but I rec-kon (sorry) I'll give it a look if I come across it. ;) Just to complete the trilogy and satisfy a perverse curiosity to see how much they've dropped the ball.

Quoted from Colkurtz8 Just to complete the trilogy and satisfy a perverse curiosity to see how much they've dropped the ball.

I can see why you'd think this way, Col. But I'm firmly with Scar Tissue on this. Fair warning.

You'll wonder what they were thinking. Even a big paycheck wouldn't explain cast and crew taking part. It's a bloody disgrace, more so compared to what came before.

R

Quoted from rendevous You'll wonder what they were thinking. Even a big paycheck wouldn't explain cast and crew taking part. It's a bloody disgrace, more so compared to what came before.

- Ok, now my perverse curiosity meter has been jacked up another notch. Perhaps there's a cautionary tale in here somewhere we can all learn from.

Check it out, Col.  It's not that bad at all, if viewed on its own terms, but accepting it in the REC universe does bring it down several notches.

BTW, REC 4 opened on the 31st and hs mixed to good reviews.  It atkes palce directly after REC 2 and tehn heads out to sea aboard an oil tanker.  It's said to be much better than 3, but nowhere near 1 and 2.

I think that the relative originality of the series has been drained, 3 is poor and 4 doesn't sound too promising... but like Col with 3... I'll probably give 4 a whirl...

Just saw this based on the glowing recommendations from y’all and especially since I'm fan of the first two 2, right?

Yeah, it’s pretty bad but in its (partial) defense it was clearly trying to something different. The brutal, hi-octane intensity of 1 & 2 and its fascinating mythology is gone…now we have occasional moments of (supposed) levity alongside a romantic underpinning running throughout. Its general aesthetic and tone was a pointed departure from the previous two installments so much so that it felt almost like a parody of the zombie genre at times. I’d barely call it a horror.

The fact that it switches from hand-held camera to conventional third person once all hell breaks loose is further indication that this was more of an exercise about the over saturated found-footage sub-genre itself rather than a bonafide chapter of the series.

Unfortunately, all these new creative choices failed miserably. The humour (Sponge John, anyone?) was woefully misjudged, and not even in a “so silly it’s funny” way, it was just lame. The love story was overwrought and uninteresting because the acting was so wooden. Again, this was probably the point…but the point was unsuccessful.

Although, I did like how the grandfather was still in “attack” mode at the end because he had lost his hearing aid so he couldn't hear the priest’s recital, that gave me a chuckle at least.

I see that Rec 4: Apocalypse is in the works with co-writer/director from the first two Jaume Balagueró back at the helm without Paco Plaze (who done Genesis alone) so perhaps it will return to the style of the 1 & 2. Which, judging by the majority of opinion, will be greatly welcomed.

So yeah, a failed experiment on all counts.

REC 4 is already out, as I mentioned earlier in this thread.

Quoted from Dreamscale REC 4 is already out, as I mentioned earlier in this thread.

So you did, sir, but its not being released until next month where I currently reside.