[REC] / YMMV - TV Tropes

Broken Base:
- The end of the first film briefly split the fandom between those who liked the Religious Horror twist and those who didn't, but hoped that Father Albelda and the Vatican had just confused a zombie virus with the effects of demonic possession. Word of God and the second film extensively confirmed that the infected were actually possessed.
- The end of the second film then split the fandom again, between those who liked the demon having a worm-like form and being able to possess Ángela, and those who didn't like either.
- The whole third film. Some liked that it abandoned the Found Footage aspect, original cast, setting and story before they got stale, and others hated it for exactly the same reasons making it an In Name Only sequel. Other sources of contention were the change of genre from pure horror to a Horror Comedy in the vein of Evil Dead 2 or From Dusk Till Dawn, and changing the infected themselves from Nigh-Invulnerable to more standard zombies (or weaker than them, as the ones in the film can be killed by being shot in other places than the head).
- The fourth film, largely depending if the viewer liked the third film or not. It was the return of Ángela and the worm demon and a less comedic tone (though the film feels more like an Action or Adventure flick than a straight Horror, and there is no first person perspective either). Many on both sides would agree that the film is a weak ending to the franchise in any case, however.
Complete Monster: The demonic Parasite is the instigator of all the zombie outbreaks that have plagued Spain. Kept inside the body of Tristana Medeiros—whom it possessed when she was only 11—the Parasite begins using her own blood as a virus to have more people under its control. Infecting and killing countless people, the Parasite massacres an entire apartment complex and a wedding ceremony with its zombies, personally killing Tristana after having jumped into the body of reporter Ángela Vidal. Repaying the kindness of a special ops officer, Guzman, by leaving Ángela and possessing him instead, the Parasite has the crew of the ship Zaratustra killed for no reason other than wanting to enjoy more carnage, all the while planning to spread the infection to untold proportions.
Descended Creator:
- Pablo Rosso is the real cinematographer of the [REC] films and a real cameraman. His part in the first film is his first acting credit.
- Velásquez is the casting director of all movies in the [REC] series.
Ensemble Dark Horse:
- The firefighter in the second film is this due to the fact that he slaps one of the annoying teenagers in the face which is satisfying along with the fact he calls them out for being idiots and that he along with Jennifer’s father are the only ones who are not arrogant like the GEO operators and Owen or idiots like the teenagers making him the Only Sane Man of the protagonists in the second film.
- Sponge John from [REC] 3 has claimed the hearts of many fans thanks to being a children's entertainer in a bootleg Sponge Bob Squarepants costume, he is genuinely hilarious, helpful and kind of badass character. Sadly he bites it in the movie which has saddened many fans as if the ending to [REC] 3 wasn't enough.
- Atún, the camera man of [REC] 3 also has some fans and were distraught about the way he dies in the film.
- A lot of viewers get irate when Manu kicks the bucket, given his appropriated Bald Head of Toughness and general charisma in-universe.
- César, whose over-the-top arrogance and campiness enticed many a viewer.
First Installment Wins: The first film is unanimously admired by critics and fans. The sequels... not so much. Especially parts 3 and 4.
Harsher in Hindsight: The first movie feels uncomfortable to watch (and with a very unsympathetic cast) after the 2020 covid pandemic. The main characters' reaction to seeing the building being quarantined and being told that there is a health safety hazard is to complain and look for a way to break out (even members of the fire department, who should really know better), complaining as if they were having their human rights violated even after being told they are in quarantine is too similar to covid deniers ignoring safety measures and complaining (to this day) about how it was all fake. The mother denying her daughter is infected after it becomes clear and keeping her away from the government official is too similar to all the parents who did the same and allowed their children to spread the disease around. Noticeably, at that point the situation was more or less contained and the official had an anti-serum ready for the child, the mother keeping her away from him is what allows the child to start spreading the disease further and causes the whole situation to degenerate.
Memetic Mutation: "Pablo, grábalo todo. Por tu puta madre"^*
Mexicans Love Speedy Gonzales: Argentinians adore César. It helps that the Spanish stereotype of an arrogant, larger-than-life Argentinian is identical to the Argentinian stereotype of an arrogant, larger-than-life Porteño (which Lasarte is).
Nausea Fuel: The entire series doesn't hold back when it comes to gore through amazing practical effects and special effects, creating horribly disfigured zombies, grotesque monsters and some very graphic kills.
- Tristana Medeiros herself is just a never-ending cavalcade of nausea fuel. After the experiments done to her by the Vatican she is left a naked possesed abomination that could give the Henrietta Knowby a run for her money. One of her finest moments has her vomiting the demon itself, a grotesque worm-like entity, into Ángela's mouth.
The Other Darrin: Pablo is played by an uncredited extra in [REC]2, where Pablo himself plays the GEI Rosso.
Too Bleak, Stopped Caring: For some viewers the series is unapologetic-ally dark and bleak with almost nothing ever going right for any of the protagonists and survivors throughout the films. The second film is one of the most guilty of this: the GEO operators and "Dr". Owen fight over the entire film, and the arrogant behavior of several of them does not help the situation; the teenagers who appear halfway through the plot are annoying and have no idea what situation they are in; and the only survivor of the first film, Angela, turns out to be in the end possessed by the virus. Adding to this the Downer Ending of the film, it is not surprising that many fans question why they should care about these characters.

YMMV / [REC]

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