Today’s quick review: Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. As the remains of the Umbrella Corporation prepare to take control of the zombie-infested Earth, Alice (Milla Jovovich) learns that there’s still one thing that can stop them: an airborne cure for the T-virus. Alice sets out across the United States to reach Raccoon City, the location of the lab that holds the cure. But Dr. Isaacs (Iain Glen) is waiting for her, along with Umbrella’s darkest secrets.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is an action horror movie and the sixth entry in the Resident Evil series. The Final Chapter marks another hard shift for the franchise, once again dropping the plot threads and supporting cast of the previous film in favor of something new. The Final Chapter delivers answers to some of the series’ longest-running questions. However, major plot holes and choppy action make it one of the weaker Resident Evil films.
The Final Chapter tears up most of the groundwork laid by Retribution. The cliffhanger from the previous movie is abandoned, the villains are shuffled around yet again, and the action is dialed back down to the level of earlier Resident Evil movies. These changes pave the way for a definitive ending for the series, including the culmination of Umbrella’s plans and answers about Alice’s past. Whether the trade is worthwhile will depend on the viewer.
Unfortunately, The Final Chapter has issues that go beyond its relationship to the rest of the series. The plot hangs together only loosely, with poor explanations for some of its key points. Alice’s journey across a ruined America lacks the character and originality it should have. Even the action is inconsistent, with fast cuts that make it hard to follow. None of these issues are crippling by themselves, but together they take away some of the fun.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter still has some value for fans of the franchise. The ideas it explores, the ending it delivers, and a serviceable amount of zombie action may be enough to fill some viewers’ need for action horror. But it’s missing both the grounding of the earlier movies in the franchise and the flashiness of the later ones, and its sweeping changes will displease some fans. The Final Chapter is best approached with caution.
5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for decent action and interesting ideas hampered by lackluster execution.