Resident Evil
By Tyler Doupe
Video game to film adaptations have long been panned for having no depth. This is frequently attributed to the fact that the subject matter on which the films are based is lacking in plot. Video games typically require little more than a skeletal outline to appease the average gamer, tasking the screenwriter(s) with either dramatically changing the existing storyline or fabricating a new one.
The results, more often than not, have left much to be desired. This is evidenced all too well in 2003s House of the Dead. Resident Evil is one of the rare instances that breaks that mold. The film version of Resident Evil introduced new characters and a plotline that appeased both fans of the game and newcomers, alike.
One of the things that worked well for the screen adaptation of Resident Evil is Mila Jovovichs portrayal of Alice. Alice is the type of final girl audiences like to see. She is a bad ass, but not without a degree of vulnerability to make her relatable. (See where Jovovich land on our Top Scream Queens of Horror here.
Also working in the films favor, the effects were groundbreaking for the time. The laser scene still holds up well ten years later. Resident Evil seamlessly melds digital and practical effects for a quality end result.
Something I really liked about Resident Evil is that it created a claustrophobic atmosphere, as the cast was trapped underground, fighting for their humanity. This provides an intensity that films set in the open sometimes miss the mark on.
