REC3 Redband Trailer Hits, Poses More Questions

Aside from the beleaguered World War Z There might not be a more anticipated horror film rife with questions than the upcoming Spanish import REC [3] (hitting various VOD outlets August 5th & select theaters September 10th). The first two installments gave both the zombie and found footage genres a much needed dose of originality and adrenaline. The two films really play like one longer, seamless story, with REC [2] moving in the unexpected but thrilling realm of demonic possession. Both films earned heaps of love from both fans and critics alike, and the first even garnered a near shot-for-shot remake that earned tens of millions at the box office, proving once again that Americans are too lazy to read. 

Act III takes the franchise into uncharted waters, and with these sea changes, the question has to be asked whether audiences will go bananas for the film this time around?

Can Paco Plazo pull it off on his own? The first two films were written and directed by the two man kayak team of Plaza and Jaume Balaguero. For the final two installments the pair is splitting up and helming a film apiece. While on the one hand you have to believe that the desire to one up each other could fuel the creative juices, there's no denying the pair click with one another. Who knows how much might get lost when Plaza doesn't have his partner to bounce ideas off of or provide a second set of eyes behind the lens?

Will dropping the found footage angle help or hinder REC 3? The original [REC] predates the Paranormal Activity phenomenon and ensuing boom in faux reality horror films by a solid two years. Even he sequel found a creative way to justify keeping the cameras rolling by including a military strike force with built in helmet cameras. While found footage horror continues to be a money maker, there's a definite fatigue that has set in. for the third go around this aspect gives way to a more traditional narrative. While I find this a welcome change, the question remains whether fans will be on board with this new direction.

What effect will leaving the apartment building and broadening the scope of the film have? Both installments of REC convey an atmosphere of suffocating claustrophobia which you can attribute to the single location setting of the tenement building. Anyone trapped within found little room to maneuver from the growing swarm of undead. Viewers felt cramped right alongside them. One always felt that a screeching infected was moments away from popping out from a door frame or would come sprinting up the narrow stairwells. No place offered ore than a few minutes respite at best. The one location setting might be singular reason why [REC] resonated with horror fans.

Plaza moves in a completely different direction this time around. [REC] 3 takes place at a wedding in with what looks like a large banquet hall or church, and it's obvious from the trailer the action won't be confined to one place. There's footage that suggests sewers are involved and there's even outdoor scenes. While this gives Plaza a bigger sandbox to play in, you have to wonder if this change, along with dropping the found footage angle, makes the film a [REC] entry in name only.

Will "The Bride" be the next great horror icon? There's something awesome watching the striking Leticia Dolera wield a chainsaw in her torn bridal gown with mascara running down her face. I could be way off base here, but something about the trailers suggests Plaza's looking to inject a little laughter alongside the knuckle chewing horror. Has Plaza found the female equivalent of Ash with Dolera? That's one of the main questions I hope is answered in the affirmative when the film hits.

With less than a month to go before the film hits, anticipation runs high for [REC] 3. The series managed to avoid the dreaded sequel letdown the first time around. Here's hoping the new direction, location and cast help keep the series fresh and fans clamoring for more.