Resident Evil, the film series

Resident Evil

Resident Evil is a name that by now, as we know, is closely linked with modern horror iconography, especially as regards the zombie genre and, especially after the release of the latest videogames of the series that started this lucky franchise, like the very recent Resident Evil Village, which has been able to reinvent the concept of survival horror. But Resident Evil is not just a brand linked to the videogame universe. Of course, its origin in the videogames field is still the master, but this has not prevented the birth of a series of films inspired by the events of the Umbrella Corporation and the brave ones who have decided to counter it, a series that has seen, after the title original, come to light the beauty of other five sequels, (you can buy the box set with the complete series at this link) thus creating an action horror saga well known to the aficionados of the brand created by Konami, both for good and in evil.

The Resident Evil film saga

Resident Evil Resident Evil: Apocalypse Resident Evil: Extinction Resident Evil: Afterlife Resident Evil: Retribution Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

Resident Evil (2002)

The first film in the Resident Evil saga dates back to 2002 and was directed by Paul WS Anderson and also played by Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez, among others. This is probably the title of the whole series that most sticks to the original plot and atmosphere of the video game created by Shinji Mikami, even if it takes abundant "narrative licenses" on some points.



Basically, however, the main elements were all there: the Umbrella villa where decidedly unconventional experiments were carried out, the T virus, the search and rescue team, the zombies, the BOW (Bio Organic Weapons) and more or less a flow of events that can be traced back to the canon of the video game.

The character of Alice was also introduced, played by the magnificent Milla Jovovich, who will then be a real cornerstone for the entire saga.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

With the second episode, released in theaters in 2004 and directed by Alexander Witt, the series has begun to clearly depart from the plot of the videogame saga , while retaining some main characters from the second and third console titles and some iconic creatures, such as lickers.

The general vibe, however, was evidently starting to veer towards a much less horror and closer type of storytelling to the science fiction genre, obviously without giving up the preponderant action component that already permeated the first film. If we want to think in terms of "purists", this chapter certainly saves the atmospheres and settings, which bring to mind in a fairly faithful way the events of Raccoon City told in the first three titles of the videogame saga, while the development of the characters and the plot itself takes a very different direction, taking a path that will later develop with the films to come.

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

Starting from this point in then, the film series and the videogame series of Resident Evil clearly diverge. Released in 2007 under the direction of Russel Mulcahy, Resident Evil: Extinction catapults the narrative, and with her some key characters, including the ubiquitous Alice, in a sort of post-apocalypse zombie setting, where the Virus T produced by Umbrella, is spread all over the world after the Raccoon City incident, reducing our planet to a wasteland infested with undead and other monstrosities generated by genetic manipulation.

In this desolate scenario, Alice and her companions they struggle to reach Alaska, a place where, apparently, there has been no trace of contagion and one can hope to rebuild a semblance of civilization.

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

The fourth chapter of the cinematic Resident Evil, directed once again by Anderson and released in 2010, develops the events that set in motion during the previous film, further developing the character of Alice and revealing or some details of her past and her true nature. In addition, some "important names" for the series, such as Claire Redfield, have been brought back into the limelight, but they are shown in a very different way from that proposed by video games.

As for the previous chapter, the atmospheres are always those of the classic post apocalyptic action, which has nothing of horror, much less the survival component.

Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

Alice's events still continue in this fifth episode of the series, also directed by Anderson, even if this time a fairly massive use of flashbacks (or presumed such) is made, going to change, at least in some situations, the now typical setting for these Resident Evil. Some secondary characters seen in the productions that preceded Retribution are back in the game, albeit for a short time.

It is a gigantic filler that, on balance, adds little or nothing to a series that has seen a decline. the average quality of its chapters, especially when compared to the narrative universe from which it takes inspiration.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)

In 2016, once again with Paul Anderson as director, the Resident Evil film saga comes to an end with, without too much imagination, this Final Chapter.

Once again, we are going to find out in more detail what happened before the Raccoon City accident, how the Umbrella Corporation got to do what it did and, above all, we will learn more about Alice's past, then return to the "usual" post apocalyptic timeline that will eventually come to a rather good-natured conclusion, which leaves intent to believe that there is indeed a concrete possibility for mankind to rebuild our civilization, destroyed by human madness and, above all, by the Umbrella Corporation.