6.6
When a virus leaks from a top-secret facility, turning all resident researchers into ravenous zombies and their lab animals into mutated hounds from hell, the government sends in an elite military task force to contain the outbreak.
Milla Jovovich
Alice
Michelle Rodriguez
Rain Ocampo
Eric Mabius
Matt Addison
James Purefoy
Spence Parks
Martin Crewes
Chad Kaplan
Colin Salmon
James "One" Shade
Pasquale Aleardi
J.D. Salinas
Heike Makatsch
Dr. Lisa Addison
Ryan McCluskey
Mr. Grey
Indra Ové
Ms. Black
Oscar Pearce
Mr. Red
Anna Bolt
Dr. Green
Joseph May
Dr. Blue
Robert Tannion
Dr. Brown
Jaymes Butler
Clarence
Stephen Billington
Mr. White
Fiona Glascott
Ms. Gold
Liz May Brice
Medic
Torsten Jerabek
Commando 1
Marc Logan-Black
Commando 2
Michaela Dicker
Red Queen
Jason Isaacs
Dr. William Birkin (uncredited)
Director, Writer
Paul W. S. Anderson
Original Story
Shinji Mikami
November 8, 2020
8
I originally watched "Resident Evil" at a movie theater when it was first released in 2002. I hadn't played the games. There was no Rotten Tomatoes and I didn't read reviews back then so I went in blind. And I utterly enjoyed the movie: the story, the action sequences, the underground "Hive," Mila Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez kicking serious ass, and more.
Panned by critics (36% RT) but liked by users (67% RT), Resident Evil was one of the first examples of how mainstream critics just don't "get" horror. Movies that try to be artsy get great reviews even as key elements fall flat for the rest of us. The recent "Beach House" is a perfect example of this -- it was loved by critics (81% RT) and panned by users (28%).
Unfortunately, the rest of the "Resident Evil" sequels except for a few moments, rarely captured that first movie's originality and allure. Instead, check out the writer/director's excellent previous outing "Event Horizon."