Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)

Movie Info

Who can keep up with the Red Queen?

The end is nearing for humanity as the number of last human survivors face extinction at the hands of those infected with the T-Virus.  When Alice (Milla Jovovich) learns about a potential cure for the T-Virus being housed in Raccoon City, she must return to the place where the horror began…but the source of the information being the Red Queen (Ever Gabo Anderson) could mean Alice is walking into a trap.  With everything on the line, Alice could learn the real truth behind the T-Virus and Umbrella.

Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, Resident Evil:  The Final Chapter is a video game horror film.  The movie is the sixth entry in the Resident Evil series and follows Resident Evil:  Retribution from 2012.  The film received mixed to negative reviews and was a box-office smash.

The Dobermans are still scarier…

Resident Evil 2 was a terrifying introduction to real horror games for me.  It had me jumping at every turn and afraid to go around corners in the game…unfortunately, the Resident Evil movies never invoked this terror because I never felt invested in them.  This Resident Evil film feels like more of the same, but at least it feels like an ending as well.

The movie gives you answers, but it also feels like they didn’t equal out six movies worth of questions.  The idea that this was all planned for a master race doesn’t even feels like the game but a bad superhero movie where everyone laughs maniacally.  The movie also cops out on a promised ending with a backdoor open for even more sequels if they really wanted.

I always liked Milla Jovovich who at least looks like she’s having some fun playing ass-kicking Alice (she also gets a duel role here).  Ali Larter is back to help end the saga, and the other generic Umbrella bad guy returns as Shawn Roberts.

All of this for a glowstick?!?!

For a movie built around zombies (and mutant zombies at that), Resident Evil:  The Final Chapter fails to really impress in the visuals.  It feels like it has all been seen before and if the film isn’t creating jumps and scares with the monsters, it feels a little pointless.   The film is primarily an action film and that is where I feel  the film series went wrong in the first place…horror seems to need to be the focus.

Resident Evil:  The Final Chapter is an easy watch and necessary if you’ve stuck to the series this long.  With a big financial windfall and the doorway open for a sequel, you wonder if money hungry execs can skip calling this the final film…or that they could at least explore different parts of the Resident Evil “universe” with a whole new cast in a soft reboot.  I’m sure some way or another that Resident Evil will return.

Related Links:

Resident Evil (2002)

Resident Evil:  Apocalypse (2004)

Resident Evil:  Extinction (2007)

Resident Evil:  Afterlife (2010)

Resident Evil:  Retribution (2012)