Resident Evil: Vendetta | 2017
Released on May 27, 2017, Resident Evil: Vendetta is a CGI film in the Resident Evil series. The film was previously known as Resident Evil Full-CG Movie and takes place after the events of Resident Evil 6. The movie begins with Leon visiting a morgue. He had planned to ambush Steven, who was residing in a hotel, but his contact, Patricio, leaked the information to terrorists. As a result, Leon’s team was ambushed and killed in a bombing, leaving only Leon alive. Devastated by the loss of his teammates, Leon goes into hiding and takes a long vacation.
Meanwhile, the film’s main antagonist, Glenn Arias, developed a new virus called the Animality Virus, or A Virus. The A Virus is a new strain that combines the T-virus with the Plaga gene, giving infected subjects the ability to distinguish between allies and enemies. It has three types: the dormant A Virus, the trigger virus that causes full infection, and a vaccine that prevents the virus from turning the subject into a zombie and grants immunity.
Glenn, an international fugitive, kidnaps BSAA agent Kathy White and her son, taking them to his mansion in Querétaro, Mexico. However, the mansion is already filled with zombies, and the special forces sent to rescue Kathy are all wiped out by the zombies, leaving only Chris to escape. Chris later confronts Glenn, but is easily overpowered by Glenn’s martial arts skills. Glenn taunts Chris by revealing Kathy White, now a zombie, and escapes amidst the zombie chaos. Chris is surrounded but is saved just in time by a BSAA helicopter, though he mourns Kathy’s death.
Rebecca, a BSAA researcher, has been investigating a zombie outbreak in the Great Lakes region and successfully develops a prototype vaccine for the A Virus. However, Glenn learns of this and sends his subordinate Maria to a research facility to start another biohazard and eliminate Rebecca. Fortunately, Chris and his team manage to rescue Rebecca. Rebecca later discovers that the A Virus contains the Las Plagas gene, which prompts her to seek Leon’s help in tracking down Glenn.
Leon, still traumatized by the loss of his teammates, has been living a reckless life filled with alcohol. At first, he refuses to cooperate with Chris and Rebecca, but after a confrontation with Chris, they agree to work together. They learn from Patricio, who had betrayed Leon in the past, that Glenn is planning a large-scale bio-terrorism attack in New York, supported by the remnants of the Los Illuminados cult.
After a series of events, the group discovers that Glenn has secretly infected the American water supply with the A Virus, and a trigger virus will soon be released in New York to cause a major biohazard. Glenn plans to use Rebecca as an unwilling bride, claiming that she resembles his deceased wife, Sarah. However, as their confrontation intensifies, Rebecca is injected with a stronger trigger virus and begins to turn into a zombie herself.
Chris, Leon, and Rebecca fight their way through Glenn’s minions to stop his plans. In a dramatic final battle, Glenn merges with his follower Diego, transforming into a monstrous hybrid creature named “Ariago.” The group eventually defeats Glenn, preventing the virus from spreading further. They deploy a vaccine into New York’s water supply, saving the city from a devastating outbreak. However, Glenn’s daughter, Maria, vows revenge on the BSAA and its members.
Despite intense action sequences, the film is widely criticized for its nonsensical plot and excessive focus on action over character development. Fans of the Resident Evil series were particularly disappointed by the lack of respect for established character arcs and the repetitive themes from previous films. Although some found the action scenes entertaining, the overall reception was largely negative, and it is considered one of the weakest entries in the series.
