Resident Evil (2002)

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Paul W.S. Anderson Director previously directed Soldier

An 'adaptation' of the Resident Evil games, Alice wakes up and can't remember a thing. An elite group of agents shows up and suddenly there's zombies.
Trivia:

Night of the Living Dead (1968) director George A. Romero was originally attached to write and direct, but left the project in 1999 due to creative differences over the script. The project was dormant for over a year before Paul W.S. Anderson signed on to write and direct the movie.

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Reference: The Andromeda Strain

The viral facility five levels beneath the earth .

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Quote: Narrator

At the beginning of the 21st century, the Umbrella Corporation had become the largest commercial entity in the United States. Nine out of every ten homes contain its products. Its political and financial influence is felt everywhere. In public, it is the world's leading supplier of computer technology, medical products, and healthcare. Unknown, even to its own employees, its massive profits are generated by military technology, genetic experimentation and viral weaponry.

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Writers
Cast
Milla Jovovich Alice
Colin Salmon One
Michelle Rodriguez Rain Ocampo
Eric Mabius Matt Addison
James Purefoy Spence Parks
Martin Crewes Chad Kaplan
Ryan McCluskey Mr. Grey
Oscar Pearce Mr. Red
Indra Ové Ms. Black
Anna Bolt Dr. Green
See Full Credits

Plot Summary

 Alice awakes
 Alice awakes
Resident Evil finds its opening deep underground, within a secret laboratory run by the international pharmaceutical enterprise Umbrella Incorporated.  A highly dangerous and potent virus is kept under lock and key, but someone manages to get access to it, and funnels a single vial through the complex's ventilation system before escaping.  The computer monitoring system begins locking everything down, trapping the doomed scientists within the contaminated laboratory. 

 Alice and Spence
 Alice and Spence
A crack commando team bursts through the windows of the mansion above, bringing with them two amnesiac Umbrella employees called Alice and Spence. They explain that the computer system known as the Red Queen had detected the T-Virus and killed everyone to prevent it from escaping to the surface.  The team attempts to go in and shut down the computer system, and this ultimately leads to the gruesome demise of the majority of its members despite their eventual success.

Alice with the ream of commandos
Alice with the ream of commandos
Chad Kaplan does what he can to lead the remaining survivors to safety, and reveals that if they don't get out of the lab within a few hours it'll seal again, and they'll be trapped inside.  It's then that the deceased Umbrella staff begin reanimating as the living dead and showcase for the protagonists just what it is that the Red Queen was trying so hard to quarantine.  Everyone aside from Alice and Spence become infected, and the Red Queen is reactivated.  She promises to allow them escape if they kill the infected members of the team.  

 Alice fights back
 Alice fights back
Alice and Spence regain their memories simultaneously, and Spence is revealed as the thief who attempted to steal the T-Virus and who ultimately locked down the Umbrella laboratory in the first place.  Alice does what she can to stop him, but he escapes with the virus again and locks them within a small room.  The Red Queen offers to unlock the room so long as Alice purges the infected members of the team.  Alice refuses, and Kaplan fries the system with his override, allowing them to escape.

Alice and Matt with an infected Rain
Alice and Matt with an infected Rain
Spence is killed by the Licker on his way to the train.  Alice and the others retrieve the virus from his body and board with only minutes to spare.  The Licker assaults their escape, killing Kaplan and infecting Matt.   Rain reanimates as a zombie in the midst of the fight, and Alice kills her before dispatching of the Licker.  She and Matt escape through the stairwell seconds before the complex seals.  Inside the mansion, they're confronted by Umbrella Corporation researchers.  Alice and Matt are separated, the latter being placed in the "Nemesis" program.

 In the end, Alice awakens within a hospital room, various tubes and wires connecting to her body.  She tears them off and finds that she's within the Umbrella Corporation's private wing within the Raccoon City hospital.  Outside, the city is in ruins, and the undead wander the streets.  Alice grabs a shotgun in preparation for what she's about to face, and the credits roll. 
Resident Evil 22 images
Here's What You Missed: The Resident Evil Series

Alex brings you up to date on the first 3, 2D Resident Evil flicks.
news Ten Years Later: “Resident Evil” matthew_floratis
review This slaps the franchise in the nuts. (2 out of 5) femiboy34
news We Are All To Blame: Fifth Resident Evil Film Promised Rorie
forum We Are All To Blame: Fifth Resident Evil Film Promised Rorie
review The First Actually Decent Video Game Film Adaptation. (3 out of 5) MasterPr0phet
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General Information Edit
Name Resident Evil
US Release March 15, 2002
UK Release
AUS Release
Runtime 101
Language(s)
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English
Genre(s)
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Action
Horror
Theme(s)
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zombies
extreme violence
Rating R
Alias(es)
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  • In today's dollars
    Domestic $40,119,709
    Foreign +62,321,369
  • = total worldwide gross $102,441,078
  • - a reported budget of $33,000,000
  • = a 210.4% net profit of $69,441,078
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