[REC] 3: Genesis (Review)

“I’d like to return a wedding dress…”

[REC] 3 Genesis opens as the wedding video of young photogenic Spanish couple Kordo and Clara. In the early stages the action cuts between the viewpoints of a young relative with a handy cam and the hired professional photographer who is well equipped and obviously immersed in his job.

And like almost all wedding videos the first 15 minutes of the film are boring.

Sure we meet the groom and bride as they mingle, watch the vows, are introduced to other key guests, parents and relatives, but we really don’t care too much about any of it unless we were there. (There’s nothing worse than someone inviting you to watch their wedding video. My inner response is always either ‘Dude I was there!’ or ‘Dude I don’t care!’)

The church service goes smoothly. The reception kicks off nicely. Uncle Freddie has a cut on his hand… Wait! What? Why would I even say that?

Ignore that irrelevant information for now. Back to the reception which is running full steam ahead with dancing and drinking for all. Then of course as the evening continues there’s always one guy who has to ruin it for everyone, sometimes it’s the ‘drunk depressing chick’, other times the ‘drunk horny dude’.

This time it is the ‘falling off the balcony, ripping the jugular out of a woman and spit-spraying blood everywhere’ guy. I always hate that guy…

Thankfully from here the hand-held element is ditched for good.

The guests are understandably underwhelmed at this unfortunate development that threatens to ruin their night. They want none of this. But like the birdie dance while everyone says they’ll never do it again, there they go embarrassing themselves by becoming infected zombie cannibals in public…

The remaining non-infecteds scatter about the place, forming pockets of survivors who must find a way to escape the throngs of bloodthirsty creatures. Some of which run, others lurch, but all are hungry.

It was always inevitable that Kordo and Clara would be separated and spend the bulk of the film trying to find each other. However if I was Kordo I wouldn’t be too keen to track the old ball and chain down. Having been to my share of weddings (including my own) I know that all Brides see the event as ‘their day’. Anything less than perfection is a nightmare.

Always the last truly happy moment in a marriage…

I attended a ceremony that was referred to as ‘ruined’ thanks to an unfortunate car bingle in the bridal car, another was ‘wrecked’ because of a red wine stain on the pristine wedding dress. Imagine how Clara feels given the fact most of her relatives and cherished guests have been treated as one long zombie buffet.

Kordo will be hearing about this for decades to come…

To answer any other queries that you may have. Yes she does use the chainsaw. Yes the film is bloody and vicious, thankfully without the anatomical indulgence of your Saws and your Hostels. And finally Yes it does introduce the theological theme spliced into [REC] 2 – but it doesn’t really matter that it does.

Final Rating – 7 / 10. While [REC] 3: Genesis isn’t in the same ballpark as [REC] 2, and not as creative as either of its forebears, it is a highly entertaining – albeit disposable – entry into the trilogy.

Trilogy Summary – 7.5 / 10. The [REC]: series is a low key Spanish horror gem that deserves more respect. Now with the prequel [REC] 3: Genesis it is but one film away from the [REC] Tangle box set.

The first film was strikingly original and creepy, a creepy tip-toe through a large apartment building punctuated by some loud noises and occasional attacks. But at that stage I was already a little tired of the ‘found footage’ handheld camera thing. Even though it was done pretty well I found it a little slow in spots.

The second film I loved. Even though it introduced a theological element that wasn’t even hinted at in the original it was so good ‘n’ nasty that I thoroughly enjoyed it anyway. It was more balls to the wall, with more attacks, more gore and less creeping until the very end.

Now the prequel, which is in fact so unrelated to the other two films aside from having the same ‘infected’ core that it could actually be a real sequel and no-one would be any the wiser. I just can’t see how this precedes the events of the first two films.

At a scant 70 odd minutes [REC] 3: Genesis is more straightforward than both its predecessors, and while it is still quite enjoyable it is less creative. In fact in retrospect it really only features two grinworthy elements, the chainsaw sequence and the very concept of a hearing impaired zombie.

About OGR

While I try to throw a joke or two into proceedings when I can all of the opinions presented in my reviews are genuine. I don't expect that all will agree with my thoughts at all times nor would it be any fun if you did, so don't be shy in telling me where you think I went wrong... and hopefully if you think I got it right for once. Don't be shy, half the fun is in the conversation after the movie.
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