Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse. Spoilers will be included in this review.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, is an action horror thriller directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and stars Milla Jovovich and Iain Glen. In the final installment of the Resident Evil franchise, Alice returns to where the nightmare began: The Hive in Raccoon City, where the Umbrella Corporation is gathering its forces for a final strike against the only remaining survivors of the apocalypse.
Under The Lens: Franchise Conclusion and Editing
Franchise Conclusion: The Resident Evil series has not been one to be overly worried about narrative threads, and the final chapter is full of retcons to previously established story. However, that being said this picture does provide fans with a definitive series conclusion that loops back to the previous pictures and tries to delve a bit into the character’s motivations. We get a mostly happy ending that ties up loose ends and showcases a world on the verge of healing, though work remains to be done.
Editing: While the picture does provide some conclusion to fans of the series, sadly this installment is a nightmare of editing and quick cuts, which makes some of the more dramatic moments headache-inducing. While I understand sometimes this is done because an individual may be unable to perform complex fight scenes and this is a method for getting around that. However, there are ways to make the cuts less noticeable or to simply film the scene without needing as many stunts. It’s to bad as the editing distracts from the film and the action and story beats.
Highlights
A scene right at the end is very touching as Alice is given back all her lost years and finds new purpose in her life.
There are many callbacks to the original pictures and one who has seen them all will feel a touch of nostalgia.
Something to think about
How would you deal with the fact that the past you thought he knew did not exist, and your memories belong to someone else?
Conclusion
Overall Resident Evil: The Final Chapter does what it’s designed to do, finish the motion picture series, it has nostalgia and Alice gets a good conclusion to her journey. That being said the film has many blatant retcons and poor editing that weakens its overall pace if you have followed this series since its first installment Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is a must-see event for you, if one goes in with little expectation and just wants a fun night at the movies then this film will check the boxes well enough. If one is looking for serious and thoughtful filmmaking then please carry on.