Magnet Releasing has scheduled [REC] 3: Genesis for release next week and I spoke with director Paco Plaza today about that film. While Plaza and Jaume Balagueró co-directed the first two installments, they decided to split up parts 3 and 4, with Plaza taking Genesis and Balagueró tackling [REC] 4: Apocalypse.

While the bulk of our interview (which will hit next week in its entirety) concerned the super-fun Genesis, Plaza was able to talk a bit about the fourth installment. There’s a moment in [REC] 3, which is a prequel to the first two films, where the camera gets put down and it switches into a more traditional film. Apparently Balagueró’s [REC] 4 takes it a step further by not being found footage at all – even though it picks up moments after [REC] 2 ends.

Per Plaza, “It’s true that it takes place after ‘[REC] 2’. And it is going to be shot [differently]. It is not going back to found footage, it is going to be a cinematic narrative. A conventional film. I don’t want to say much more, I can’t say too much. I don’t want to get in trouble!”

For you found footage fans, don’t worry. When Plaza puts the POV-cam down in [REC] 3, he’s not dissing the genre. “It’s not that I wanted to make a statement. There are still excellent found footage films like ‘Paranormal Activity 3’. It’s not saying ‘found footage is over’ or anything. I just wanted to surprise the audience and deliver something different [after the first two films].”

Get more on the official Facebook. [REC] 3: Genesis hits VOD on Friday, August 3 and select theaters on Friday, September 7. You can check out the trailer inside. Look for our full interview with Plaza before the film’s release next week!