🎬Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City − The True Origin Story

Full movie link is at the very bottom of the description box below. Directors: Johannes Roberts Producers: Robert Kulzer, James Harris, Hartley Gorenstein, Martin Moszkowicz Cast: Kaya Scodelario, Hannah John-Kamen, Robbie Amell, Tom Hopper, Avan Jogia, Neal McDonough Studio: SCREEN GEMS 1 h 47 min 2021 Countries: United States Germany United Kingdom Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) - An Introduction "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" is a 2021 action-horror film that serves as a cinematic reboot of the long-running Resident Evil film franchise. It sets itself apart from the preceding Milla Jovovich-led series by aiming for a tone and aesthetic far more faithful to the original Capcom video games, specifically drawing plot elements and characters from 1996's Resident Evil and 1998's Resident Evil 2. The Director's Vision: Back to Horror Written and directed by fan and filmmaker Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down), the film's core mandate was to return the series to its roots in survival horror and atmosphere, heavily inspired by the works of classic horror directors like John Carpenter. Roberts focused on practical, grimy visuals and a pervasive sense of dread, favoring slow-burn tension over the high-octane action and bullet-time sequences of the prior films. Setting and Plot The story is set entirely on one fateful night in 1998 in the titular Midwestern town of Raccoon City, a once-thriving industrial hub that has become a desolate, dying wasteland after the pharmaceutical behemoth, the Umbrella Corporation, abruptly relocated. The film presents the corporate abandonment as the initial horror, with the ensuing zombie outbreak being the inevitable, grotesque consequence of unchecked corporate malfeasance. The narrative is split into two interconnected storylines, mirroring the dual paths of the games: Raccoon City Police Department (R.P.D.): Claire Redfield (Kaya Scodelario) returns to town to warn her estranged brother, Chris, about Umbrella's sinister experiments. She soon partners with the severely out-of-his-depth rookie cop, Leon S. Kennedy (Avan Jogia), as the two find themselves trapped in the besieged R.P.D. station when the T-Virus is unleashed, turning citizens into flesh-eating zombies. The Spencer Mansion: Claire's brother, Chris Redfield (Robbie Amell), along with his elite S.T.A.R.S. team members, including Jill Valentine (Hannah John-Kamen) and the morally compromised Albert Wesker (Tom Hopper), are dispatched to the isolated, terrifying Spencer Mansion to investigate a series of gruesome murders. This half of the story is an atmospheric throwback to the original game's enclosed, puzzle-box environment. Key Characteristics Game Fidelity: The film is packed with Easter eggs and attempts to faithfully recreate iconic locations, such as the elaborate R.P.D. lobby and the Spencer Mansion's famous architecture, often working from the original game blueprints. Characters: The film aims for a more grounded, less overtly heroic portrayal of the main cast, presenting them as ordinary people—a rookie cop, a struggling sibling, a cynical special forces officer—thrust into an unimaginable crisis. Creatures: Fan-favorite monsters, including the terrifying, disfigured Lisa Trevor and the mutated scientist Dr. William Birkin, make their live-action appearances, often utilizing practical effects to enhance the sense of gruesome realism. While it has been praised by many fans for its genuine devotion to the original source material and its spooky atmosphere, critics gave the film mixed reviews, often citing a rushed plot due to cramming two large video game stories into a single runtime, and an uneven script. Nevertheless, it remains a significant entry for its commitment to the horror roots of the Resident Evil universe.