Movie Review: "Resident Evil: Afterlife"

Seen on: September 10, 2010

The players: Director: Paul W.S. Anderson, Writer: Paul W.S. Anderson, Cast: Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Shawn Roberts, Kim Coates

Facts of interest: None.

The plot: Alice heads to Los Angeles, where she encounters some survivors and comes up with a plan to reach a safe haven.

Our thoughts: Yes, “Resident Evil: Afterlife” is already the fourth film in the big-screen series based on the popular video game, and just like many zombies out there, this franchise just won’t die. No, not all of the “Resident Evil” flicks were disasters (I enjoyed the first and third), but this latest sequel proves that it may be time to call it quits, and that despite the fact that the 3D in this thing looks pretty cool.

“Afterlife” kicks off with an action-packed sequence showing how Alice (Milla Jovovich) wreaks havoc at Umbrella Corporation. Sadly for her, the main villain escapes, and for the rest of the movie, Alice tries to track down human survivors and develop a plan to end this zombie madness once and for all. Her adventure takes her to a ruinous Los Angeles, where she teams up with some folks dying to find a safe haven.

That’s pretty much all you need to know about the film’s plot. It’s more of the same anyway, and to be honest, this series hasn’t been the strongest when it comes to storytelling. So, what else does “Resident Evil: Afterlife” have to offer cinemagoers? First, there’s the 3D, and as I mentioned above, it delivers the goods for sure. It all looks sharp and epic, and it definitely helps boost the intensity of the film’s action.

I wish I could talk about other positive stuff, but my enthusiasm ends here. Most of the battles in the film are repetitive, and when Alice and co. don’t shoot around, they engage in some of the most ridiculous dialogue yet. Trust me when I say your ears will bleed. The performances disappoint across the board, and even the mutated Undead look and behave more laughable than ever. In short, the flick lacks suspense.

Even though “Afterlife” is overloaded with CGI, the photography works. Technically, the film scores some points, but if it weren’t for the 3D, nothing in this sequel would be worth your time and money. Diehard fans of the game or films may disagree with me, but I admit I left the theater disappointed. In the end, the only thing that really stuck with me is Tomandandy’s incredibly cool soundtrack.

Paul W.S. Anderson certainly knows how to set up fast-paced sequences filled with flying bullets and blood splattering everywhere, but in my book, he should leave the writing to someone else. Both the characters and the central story arc of “Afterlife” could use a lot more depth, but it seems like Anderson was too preoccupied turning his entire movie into a slow-motion fiesta.

Freaky quote: "Hey Boys, Is that anyway to treat a lady?" - Milla Jovovich

The final word: I don’t consider “Resident Evil: Afterlife” to be one of the year’s worst films, but there is so much more they could’ve done with it. The 3D looks good and will keep fans of the franchise happy, but the film lacks suspense and innovation. Heck, even the ending is mostly dissatisfying, and that’s certainly not a good sign for the series’ future. Only solid box office returns can keep this one alive…

Article by Franck Tabouring