![[REC] 4: Apocalypse](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/sash/4FyxwxECzL-U1J8.png)
Rec and Rec 2 were some of the most inspiring, horrific genre pieces to come out of the late 2000s. Europe had revitalized horror and managed to push it back into serious territory done well to contrast with America's emphasized near-parody and unintentionally bad or funny horror films. After letting the series take a slight detour into that awful American- like quality with part 3, Rec 4's details showed promise of returning the series to it's original style, climaxing with a finale that could string them together into one of the best horror trilogies.
Unfortunately, that is not what happened here. To say Rec 4 is a bad film is stretching. I think what we have here is a case of "one step forward, half a step back" from part 3. What's changed is not just the abandonment of the "found footage" style that's become synonymous with some promising independent horror films lately. I don't believe dropping that style is what's changed the quality of this film. The film has taken a turn for the camp, whether intentional or unintentional, but it's still entertaining. It's hard to write a review when you want to stress that it's not a bad film, but it's not what was expected so it's a bit of a letdown. Some of the film is too ridiculous, some of the film is funny(where many people feel it shouldn't be funny), but some of it is genuinely nice.
I do dislike that they've dropped the possession aspect in order to focus on the virus as simply a parasite that makes you evil. Where the second film's twist was a genuine surprise, this film's twist was obvious a good while before it was revealed.
However, this is not a bad film, it's just extremely different. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a little bit of a left-field swing for the finale.
But if you're going to get butt-hurt by the abrupt sub-genre-switch between parts 2 and 4, let part 2 be your ending. For me, it works either way. I would definitely recommend this movie to some people though because for it's goals, it's very accomplished, even if it's inferior to the excellent first 2 films.
Unfortunately, that is not what happened here. To say Rec 4 is a bad film is stretching. I think what we have here is a case of "one step forward, half a step back" from part 3. What's changed is not just the abandonment of the "found footage" style that's become synonymous with some promising independent horror films lately. I don't believe dropping that style is what's changed the quality of this film. The film has taken a turn for the camp, whether intentional or unintentional, but it's still entertaining. It's hard to write a review when you want to stress that it's not a bad film, but it's not what was expected so it's a bit of a letdown. Some of the film is too ridiculous, some of the film is funny(where many people feel it shouldn't be funny), but some of it is genuinely nice.
I do dislike that they've dropped the possession aspect in order to focus on the virus as simply a parasite that makes you evil. Where the second film's twist was a genuine surprise, this film's twist was obvious a good while before it was revealed.
However, this is not a bad film, it's just extremely different. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a little bit of a left-field swing for the finale.
But if you're going to get butt-hurt by the abrupt sub-genre-switch between parts 2 and 4, let part 2 be your ending. For me, it works either way. I would definitely recommend this movie to some people though because for it's goals, it's very accomplished, even if it's inferior to the excellent first 2 films.