[REC] 3: GENESIS (2012)

Directed By: Paco Plaza 
Written By: Paco Plaza, David Gallart & Luiso Berdejo 
 Cinematography By: Pablo Rasso 
Editor: David Gallart 

 Cast: Leticia Dolera, Diego Martin, Ismael Martinez, Alex Monner

The action now takes place miles away from the original location and partly in broad daylight, giving the film an entirely fresh yet disturbing new reality. The infection has left the building. In a clever twist that draws together the plots of the first two movies, this third part of the saga also works as a decoder to uncover information hidden in the first two films and leaves the door open for the final installment, the future '[REC] 4 Apocalypse.'

A couple's wedding day turns horrific as some of the guests start showing signs of a strange illness.

I am a big fan of the first film. I didn't love but thought part 2 while disappointing was entertaining and continued the story in prequel fashion and helped deepen the mythology. This sequel doesn't really deepen the series mythology at all. In fact other then similar monsters and situations (which make you more aware that this is a sequel, without any returning cast) could have been a stand alone horror comedy film. That obviously pays homage to various horror films, such as the evil dead films and zombie films in general.

What helps the film is that if you have seen the 2 previous films. I has inside jokes about the series, characters and situations, Even the filming. As after the first act of the film it ditches the series hallmark of found footage filming and goes a more traditional route.

The emphasis on gore is still here, but also more of a sense of humor a macabre one.

Comic book artist Tony Moore, known for his work in The Walking Dead comic book series, drew a poster for this film's promotion in the United States.

The film doesn't wear out it's welcome as it's very short. It's pretty much a basic survivors vs. zombies film with style, but it feels fun and you can predict who will survive and who won't

What sets the film apart is not necessarily the romance angle of the newlyweds, but the last five minutes of the film. Which can be seen as unbelievable and unnecessarily sentimental by jaded movie goers, but can be seen as sweet unexpected and perfect by others.

During the film I noticed the zombies eyes become bright and cloudy so it was hard to tell I the lead actress was among the living other than her actions and reactions as her eyes are naturally bright. As the heroine of the film Clara is spunky, cute, funny and kick ass. So that you naturally root for her through out the film. While it's not moving mountains for the series this is a fun entry that if it is the last. It doesn't exactly end on a high note, but at least a fun one.

Two months before shooting, Letecia Dolora went into the gym with a personal trainer, training five days a week to prepare for the zombie slaying scenes.

The film just feels like the filmmakers have dealt with enough doom, gloom and dread and want to have in while acknowledging the carnage going on. It also shows not to hold your work so scared you can't inject something into it. It might also show a willingness to move on as i said before this film could have been a stand alone zombie film, but it's title being part of a well known service helps sell it

I look forward to the future works of the filmmakers. The gags seem natural, not necessarily made up and goofy. My favorite the bride apologizing to a wedding guest for inviting her to this carnage and all of this happening as she explains the hardships she went through just to make the wedding.

The movie isn't a sequel, but a parallel story to the events of REC according to two scenes: when Koldo is in the control room behind him a little TV shows pictures from the first movie (a street TV news with a sealed building), and when Tío Víctor talks to the camera about the hurt in his hand, produced after a bit of a dog apparently dead (the same dog mentioned in the first movie that was taken to the veterinarian).

During "[REC]³ Génesis" announcements, most fans of the premise thought the movie was going to be a prequel for the film series, which is not what the plot revealed itself to be. However, the origins of the demonic outbreak are explained in the graphic novel "[REC]: Historias Ineditas" (Untold Stories), released alongside "Génesis" in Europe.

A Satisfying Rental

Grade: C+