Resident Evil | 2002
Resident Evil is an action horror film released in 2002, written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. The film stars Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius, James Purefoy, Martin Crewes, and Colin Salmon. It is the first installment in the Resident Evil film series, loosely based on the video game series of the same name. The story follows Alice, who suffers from amnesia, and a special forces team from the Umbrella Corporation as they attempt to contain the spread of the T-virus in a secret underground facility.
In January 1997, the German studio Constantin Film acquired the rights to adapt the series into live-action. Several writers and filmmakers, including Alan B. McElroy, George A. Romero, and Jamie Blanks, were initially hired to direct and write the film, but their scripts were rejected. In 2000, Anderson was announced as the writer and director. Developed as a prequel set in the same timeline as the video game series, the film was initially known as Resident Evil: Ground Zero but was renamed after the 9/11 attacks. The cast was announced in early 2001, and principal photography began in March 2001 in Berlin.
Resident Evil was released in theaters by Constantin Film in Germany on March 12, 2002, and in the UK by Pathé on July 12, 2002. The film received generally negative reviews from critics, grossing $103 million worldwide against a production budget of $33 million. It spawned five sequels: Apocalypse (2004), Extinction (2007), Afterlife (2010), Retribution (2012), and The Final Chapter (2016).
Beneath Raccoon City lies the Hive, a genetic research facility owned by the Umbrella Corporation. A thief steals the genetically engineered T-virus, contaminating the Hive. In response, the facility's AI, the Red Queen, seals off the Hive and kills everyone inside to prevent the virus from escaping.
Alice wakes up in a bathroom of an abandoned mansion, suffering from amnesia. An unknown assailant attacks her, and a special forces team led by James Shade breaks in. The attacker claims to be Matt Addison, a cop transferred from Raccoon Police. Alice and Matt are ordered to descend into the Hive with the group, where they discover another amnesiac, Spence, hidden on a train. The special forces explain that everyone in the group, except for Matt, is an employee of the Umbrella Corporation, and Alice and Spence are assigned to pretend to be married to guard the secret entrance to the Hive.
A laser defense system kills Shade and three special forces members outside the Red Queen's chamber. The Red Queen pleads with the group to leave, but Kaplan disables it, causing all the Hive's doors to open. This releases zombified employees and Lickers, created through experiments with the T-virus. The crowd attacks the group, resulting in J.D.'s death and the group becoming separated. Alice begins to regain her memories, and Matt discovers his zombified sister, Lisa. Alice saves him, and Matt explains that he and Lisa were environmental activists. Lisa infiltrated Umbrella to smuggle evidence of illegal experiments. Alice remembers that she was Lisa's contact in the Hive but does not tell Matt. The survivors reunite in the Red Queen's chamber, and the special forces explain they have one hour before the Hive automatically seals them in. Alice and Kaplan activate the Red Queen to find an exit, installing a remote shutdown device to force her cooperation.
While escaping through maintenance tunnels, they are ambushed by zombies, and the resurrected J.D. asks Rain for help, but she kills him. They reach a safe location, but Kaplan is bitten and separated from the group. Alice remembers that there is an antivirus in the lab but discovers it is missing. Spence regains his memory and reveals that he was the thief who initially stole the T-virus and released it intentionally. He had hidden the T-virus and antivirus on the train. Spence betrays the others but is bitten by a zombie, trapping the survivors in the lab. He retrieves the antivirus but is killed by a Licker. The Red Queen offers to spare Alice and Matt if they kill Rain while she is infected. Everyone leaves, and Kaplan shuts down the Red Queen, opening the lab door. The group heads to the train, where Alice retrieves the antivirus and kills the resurrected Spence.
On the train, they inject the antivirus into Rain and Kaplan. A Licker attacks them, scratching Matt and killing Kaplan. Alice subdues the Licker, but zombified Rain attacks Matt, and the antivirus fails to cure her. He kills Rain.
At the mansion, Matt's wounds begin to mutate. Before Alice can give him the antivirus, Umbrella scientists capture them. They reveal that Matt will be part of the Nemesis program and that the Hive will reopen for investigation into the incident.
One day, Alice wakes up strapped to an examination table in a Raccoon City hospital. She escapes outside but discovers that Raccoon City has become a wasteland. She retrieves a shotgun from an abandoned police car for defense.