As the new Resident Evil movie approaches its release, GameSpot editor Reyna Cervantes revisits the original Resident Evil film series directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. In her view, although these films never truly stayed faithful to the source games and have long been controversial among players and critics, their bold, wild, and highly personal style makes them a rare and unique presence in video game adaptations. Compared to today's adaptations that increasingly emphasize fidelity to the games, she appreciates these films' willingness to break free from the source material and stick to the director's creative vision, arguing that this millennium-era cinematic style may have gained more recognition in hindsight.
Original GameSpot article:
Have you heard? A new Resident Evil movie is coming! That's right! They've brought in the director behind the excellent horror films Barbarian and Weapons! Zach Cregg is a die-hard fan of the game series, so this film has a good chance of being great. But you know what else is pretty great? The old Resident Evil movies.
So, were these old Resident Evil movies faithful to the original games? Not really. Were they explosive action films inspired by Hong Kong cinema and infused with millennium/new metal elements? Absolutely, and I'm tired of pretending these movies aren't enjoyable.
Since the birth of Resident Evil, Capcom has been trying to adapt its hit survival horror game into a hit survival horror movie. Shortly after the game's release, several adaptation proposals emerged, most notably an unproduced version by George A. Romero, the father of zombie films. His version fairly faithfully recreated the Mansion Incident and the Raccoon City outbreak, using them as a metaphor for the displacement of indigenous peoples. This script was excellent and is easily found online.
However, production only began after Sony hired Paul W.S. Anderson, director of Mortal Kombat and Event Horizon, based on an unproduced script he had written titled Undead (described as a reimagining of Resident Evil).
The first Resident Evil film, released in 2002, featured an entirely new cast of characters. Anderson believed that keeping audiences unable to predict who would live or die was crucial to the overall experience, and only a fresh cast could achieve this effect. The film follows Alice (played by Milla Jovovich, star of The Fifth Element and Anderson's wife) and her mercenary squad as they are tasked with investigating Umbrella Corporation's massive underground laboratory, but events quickly spiral out of control.
Resident Evil (2002)
The final product is a uniquely styled, suffocating journey through hell, with monsters and gore drawn from Capcom's games, while the story is entirely original. Although Anderson drew heavily from Capcom, it's easy to see how the film's highly stylized action scenes also influenced the 2004 game Resident Evil 4—just look at the laser corridor scene in the 2002 film. Although the film performed reasonably well at the box office and played a role in shaping the future of the game series, Resident Evil fans remained dissatisfied with the many changes made to the original story. They still held onto a sliver of hope that the tease of Raccoon City at the film's end hinted at a better adaptation to come.
But the film series did not follow this path. Admittedly, its direct sequel, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, did move Alice from the Hive to the streets of Raccoon City, but Apocalypse and all subsequent films in the series mostly insisted on using certain game elements to tell original stories. This not only disappointed game fans, but despite decent box office results, these films were heavily criticized by reviewers.
But I believe these films stand out among video game adaptations largely because they pushed beyond the boundaries of the source material; Anderson's decision to embrace the exaggerated, wild style of the Resident Evil series against fans' wishes was actually a very smart move. While they may not have perfectly replicated the original games, they showcased the filmmakers' vision. Each film is rich, thrilling, and absurd, with a tone and approach vastly different from many of today's game adaptations—and that's precisely what makes them feel more authentic.
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Take the fourth film in the series, Resident Evil: Afterlife, for example, which tells the story of Alice struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world after having her superpowers stripped away by video game villain Albert Wesker. This work pushes action sequences to the extreme, even excessively so, with enough slow-motion shots to make Zack Snyder blush. Yet, all these exaggerated elements feel deliberate, showcasing Anderson's unique vision for the Resident Evil series. The climax of the game serves as the best example: it recreates the classic battle from the end of Resident Evil 5 and integrates it into Anderson's worldview; the resulting visual spectacle might have seemed absurd at the time. However, the personality and intent behind this scene far surpass many action movies we see today.
Anderson would take this even further. In the subsequent sequel, Resident Evil: Retribution, Alice is kidnapped by Umbrella Corporation and taken to a simulated facility in Antarctica, where Umbrella tests its global outbreak plans. Since much of the film takes place within digital simulations, it can reference previous entries and bring some characters back from the dead. The simulation setting allows Anderson to break all the series' previous rules, placing heroes from across the franchise (including both films and games) into bizarre survival scenarios largely unrelated to the main storyline. Admittedly, this is somewhat self-indulgent, but it is presented with genuine sincerity. I have to admire Anderson's straightforward approach.
Resident Evil: Retribution
And that's precisely why these films are so great. We live in an era where major studios are increasingly unwilling to take risks; blockbusters abound, yet many are later revealed to have been ruthlessly altered because directors were forced to change their creative visions to meet studio demands or executives' whims. Although Anderson's Resident Evil series was unpopular at the time (and remains controversial today), it reflects an era when studios allowed directors to take bold risks with well-known IPs. Zach Cregg's new film, while also telling an original story, stays faithful to the spirit of the games, blending Capcom's gameplay elements and overall structure. The final result is certainly impressive, but it also makes me appreciate Anderson's Resident Evil films even more, as they perfectly showcase Anderson's unique perspective on bringing this video game series to the big screen.
The original Resident Evil film series was never destined for Oscar glory, nor could it fully replicate this beloved survival horror game series. But on their own terms, they are absolutely brilliant works, showcasing the fearless spirit of millennium-era filmmaking—an era that I believe never received the recognition it deserved. When it comes to video game adaptations, I will always prefer those with strong originality and clear creativity over those "cliché" productions that make me point at the screen recognizing obvious game visuals.