came in here expecting to see a lot of love for this

Hahaha! You're right this movie was atrocious even the crapfest that was Quarantine 2 was still better than this POS. I can only assume that Jaume Balagueró which is credited as writer and director of Rec 1 and 2 was the one that made the first films good and that Paco Plaza (writer and director of Rec 3) was just his best friend and he allowed him to take some credit.

It deserves all the hate it has received. It's terrible and added nothing to the series.

I too love it. It's supposed to be campy and over the top. I hated it too at first but then realised what the film makers were going for and really appreciated it.

If you look at it the same way you do Rec 1 & 2 then it will ultimately let you down.

Boom, nailed it! I just saw Rec 2 and 3 back to back and Genesis had the balls to be different and boldly so haha. As you said Rec 2 felt like a mediocre remake of Rec 1 with extended backstory. Horror fans who prefer films like the Evil Dead series or Planet Terror are more likely to enjoy this. Horror fans who prefer films like Cloverfield or Paranormal Activity are less likely to enjoy this. I enjoy both over-top horror and found-footage films so one and three are my favorites in the series so far. Yet to see Apocalypse, but at least it won't take place in the same apartment building as 1 and 2 so I read.

Even older thread now, but I just watched REC Genesis for the first time ever. And I think it's my favourite of the three I've seen.

I mean, I kind of understand the people who dislike it. You've got that meta-joke at the beginning where they break the camera just before the title card. And that kind of signals 'OK, we've had two movies of the found footage stuff. We're over that.'

If you're committed to that conceit, then -- sure -- them shrugging it off like that probably feels like a slap in the face. I thought it was funny.

I thought a lot of it was funny.