Resident Evil: The Final Chapter | Film Review

You know, I gave up on believing in “The Final Chapter” of movie franchises a long, long time ago. I can even pinpoint the exact time.  It was 1985, and the movie that shattered forever the impact of those three words was my least favorite entry in one of the most famous horror series out there; “Friday the 13^th Part 5: A New Beginning”.  My favorite in the series, “Friday the 13^th Part 4: The Final Chapter”, had ended brilliantly with pre-Goonie Corey Feldman himself slamming a machete halfway through Jason’s warped and disfigured melon, thus bringing about the end of the Voorhee’s line and a pretty nifty little series of horror flicks.  I had been pretty happy with that ending, and I’m sure my life would have been no less fulfilling without what came after.  Did the sequels annoy me and make me curse the producers for daring to mess with a perfect ending?  No, not at all.  Part 6 is actually my second favorite in the series, and despite its ridiculousness – even within the Friday the 13^th Universe –  “Jason X” holds a special place near my heart.  Come on, it’s Jason in space.  What’s not to love?

Anyways, there are many “Final Chapters” scattered throughout the last two or three decades of cinema. Some of them kept their promise while others just laughed, shook their head, and gave us that knowing wink.  You know the one.

Which brings me to the subject of this review, “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter”, the purported last hurrah (wink, wink) for a pretty nifty series in own right, the first of which dates all the way back to 2002. Ah, yes, a very good year indeed, and the birth of that other franchise that refused to die, “My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding”.  Actually, I’m pretty sure that one is gone for good now.  But, you never know.  Is “My Big, Fat, Greek Zombie Apocalypse” really that much of a stretch these days?

But I digress. “Resident Evil:  The Final Chapter” is number six in the successful franchise based on the equally successful series of video games.  Actually, a new game entry was also just released on the 24th.  Coincidence?  I’m sure (wink, wink).  Many say these movies represent the pinnacle of the oft maligned “movies based on video games” genre, and after some extensive, Google-based research using that very same phrase, I’m inclined to agree…although the first “Mortal Kombat” was pretty darn cool.

Anyways – again – our story picks up right where the last one left off, in a devastated Washington. And what is the story up till now?  To be honest, f**k if I know.  I gave up on the plot of these things about three sequels ago.  Just know that our plucky, T-virus infected heroine Alice (Milla Jovovich) is still on her mission to bring an end to the zombie infestation that has spread all across the world, all thanks to the same virus coursing through her very own veins.  When she learns that the end of her quest may actually be within sight, she plots a course back to where it all began, Racoon City and The Hive.  On the road, she runs into old friends, old enemies, and all kinds of nasty, post-apocalyptic beasties.  And, of course, anything that can be shot-up, blown-up, chopped-up, and/or burned-up along the way promptly is.

Folks, this fine film turned out to be way, way better than I expected. I know, it was sounding like I was setting it up for a pounding, but this is glorious, gratuitous, over-the-top, genre filmmaking at its very best.  This movie knows exactly what it is, doesn’t try to be anything less or more, and gives the audience who have stuck with it for the last 15 years exactly what they want: an unrelenting, joyous rush to an all-will-be-revealed, ridiculous, balls-out finale.

Director Paul W.S. Anderson – who helmed the first, fourth and fifth in the series – is back behind camera this final (wink, wink) time out, and he obviously hasn’t lost his passion for what he helped birth way, way back when a teenaged Jason Bourne was just making his first big screen appearance. He obviously loves the series, and that is so, so important when you are dealing with a movie such as this.  How many movie series have just petered out rather than making a triumphant stand at the end?  Too many.  If you want a good example of the latter, just check out the recent “Underworld: Blood Wars”.  It too is the latest in a popular action/horror franchise (number 5, not 6) with a strong female lead, and turned out to be the worst film in the series because it was blatantly obvious that everyone involved just didn’t give a damn.  Damn you, “Underworld” series!  I did love you once.

Sorry, back to Paul. Like I said, the man cares a lot for more than just a paycheque here, and it shows.  The action in this is some of the best in the entire series, and Anderson guides his star (and real-life wife) through it all with a steady and confident hand.  He can only guide her with the one hand because his other is throwing everything including the kitchen sink at his lovely missus.  And Milla Jovovich is more than up for the challenge.  If Mr. Anderson is the brains of these films, Jovovich is the soul and balls.  She’s been charged with most of the heavy lifting from the beginning, and she has not even begun to bend – except in the very best way.  With every high-kick, punch, and trigger-pull, she dares you to suggest anyone else who could come close to her portrayal of Alice.  Go ahead and try.  I bet she’d reach right out of the screen and smack you up the side of the head for trying.  And she wouldn’t even need 3D to do it.  That’s how cool she is.

I don’t want to delve too much into the rest of the cast since there are some twists and unexpected appearances. Things do get a little confusing, and the word “clone” gets thrown around a lot.  Let’s just say that the main baddie does a great job and I can’t wait to see him back on the next season of “Game of Thrones”.  Maybe (wink,wink).

Okay, I gotta go back to the action again for a moment. Let’s face it – that is what people will be going to see.  There are some massive set-pieces in this, and I do feel they would be best served viewed upon the big-screen.  There is one in particular which I will only describe as “the towering inferno zombie BBQ scene”.  Believe me when I say it is as yummy as it sounds.  And the CGI is pretty darn good throughout.  Granted, I don’t have a real-life giant, razor-toothed, flying, zombie, dragon thingy to compare it to, but it seemed pretty solid to me.  The zombie hordes – and they are very hordey in this – look great, and all the other beasties as well.  And they all get dispatched by Milla and Co. in the most glorious ways imaginable.  Hallelujah and pass the sawed-off-shotgun.

Wait a minute! I just realized something.  Paul W.S. Anderson also directed “Mortal Kombat”.  Why the hell is this guy not directing every video game adaptation?

And speaking of video games, I think this one is the most video-gamey of the whole series. From the very beginning, it rarely let’s up.  Remember the CGI, giant, dragon thingy I mentioned before?  The one that’s featured prominently in the trailer?  Looks like it might be from the finale, right?  Nope.  That thing is in the first 5 minutes of the movie and it only gets crazier from there, barely stopping to catch a breath.  When it does pause, it’s like a cut scene in a game – just enough time for a few hellos, and where the hell you beens – and then it’s off again to the next bit of beautiful carnage.  I was honestly beat by the end of it, but in that good, just had a great workout kind of way.  Wonderful stuff.

And I know I give the story a lot of guff, but there is one more important thing to note. If you’ve been following this series from the beginning, you know there have been loads of twists, plot holes, red herrings, and so forth from the start.  Not to mention the endless teasing of 1) who Alice really is and 2) will this madness ever end.  Well, rest easy folks because even though the story continues to be a bit of a mess throughout much of this, there is a light or two at the end of the tunnel.  This is a true “Final Chapter”.  That’s right, answers are on the way.  I won’t say how many or which ones, but I will tell you that if they don’t make another one of these, this is a fine and satisfying way to tie it all up.  I was more than pleased as the credits began to roll, and I wish I had taken a selfie so I could show you the big, stupid grin I had on my face.

“Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” is a damn good flick, featuring a damn fine woman, that kicks a lot of damn ass, looks damn glorious, and is made by damn good folks who give….you got it….a damn. Check it out!

Oh, and you might be wondering if they left the door open a squidge for another one. Well, the answer is maybe….Wink, wink.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is now playing nationwide
Starring Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen, Ali Larter, Ruby Rose
Written by Paul W.S. Anderson
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson