As far as franchise finales go, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is an ambitious, action-packed, and wholly satisfying conclusion for fans of the series that have been waiting to see what the Umbrella Corporation and the Red Queen’s endgame would be ever since the original Resident Evil film premiered in 2002.
The Final Chapter picks up directly after the events of its predecessor, Resident Evil: Retribution, with Alice (Milla Jovovich) now making her way back to Raccoon City for her last chance to thwart the evil corporation behind the zombie outbreak that has ravaged our planet and infected the human population.
What Alice doesn’t initially realize is that her journey is just as much about herself as it is about humanity, as certain truths are revealed and we discover the significance of Alice’s existence and how she has parlayed the going-ons at Umbrella. And as she prepares for the ultimate showdown, Alice crosses paths with a few familiar (and unfamiliar) faces—including Claire Redfield (Ali Larter)—who join Resident Evil’s iconic heroine to take down the evil corporation once and for all.
From its very first scene, The Final Chapter is jam-packed with the signature breakneck action that the Resident Evil films have become known for over the years, with writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson not taking his foot off the gas for most of the film’s first two acts. There’s one fight sequence in particular in The Final Chapter, which features Alice dangling upside down from an overpass, that might be a top five moment from the entire series for me. Overall, this installment of Resident Evil has some of the most cohesive and cleverly conceived action-driven scenes we’ve ever witnessed in the franchise.
Something else I appreciated is how Anderson slows things down for the finale of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter by taking the story in a more thought-provoking direction, a decision that goes against the grain of the series (there’s still plenty of killing, but also some character-driven elements that give us some closure, too). And considering the fact that this is being touted as THE last installment of Alice’s story, I enjoyed how all the throughlines that had been peppered throughout the Resident Evil series are brought together here, making for a truly fitting farewell for fans.
Anyone who knows my cinematic tastes knows that I have a profound sense of love for the Resident Evil series, and while I won’t begrudge anyone for thinking otherwise, my appreciation has always stemmed from the fact that not only do we get to enjoy a badass hero in Jovovich’s Alice, but that you can tell each of these films were made with pure affection for its source material (and even when Anderson wasn’t in the director’s chair, he was still working within the Resident Evil franchise as a writer). The evolution of Alice has been incredibly fun to watch over the years, too, and you can really see Jovovich having a lot of fun in The Final Chapter with her now-iconic character, as she seems to play up each of Alice’s battles with a hint of a twinkle in her eye and a focused sense of purpose (which wasn’t really the case with her character in earlier Resident Evil installments).
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is a somewhat bittersweet experience for me, because for as much as I had a blast with it, and feel like it’s one of the better Resident Evil movies we’ve seen (Anderson really hits his stride here), in my heart I know this is the end of the road for Jovovich’s Alice and all those involved in the franchise. As a fan, I really wish this wasn’t goodbye. It’s a helluva send-off, for sure, but my heart just isn’t ready to bid Alice adieu, even after nearly 15 years. For those of you who dig the Resident Evil series as much as I do, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy The Final Chapter, but if you aren’t already a fan, then there’s probably not much that this one will do to change your mind.
Movie Score: 4/5
Heather A. Wixson was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, until she followed her dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. A 14-year veteran in the world of horror entertainment journalism, Wixson fell in love with genre films at a very early age, and has spent more than a decade as a writer and supporter of preserving the history of horror and science fiction cinema. Throughout her career, Wixson has contributed to several notable websites, including Fangoria, Dread Central, Terror Tube, and FEARnet, and she currently serves as the Managing Editor for Daily Dead, which has been her home since 2013. She's also written for both Fangoria Magazine & ReMind Magazine, and her latest book project, Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume One will be released on October 20, 2021.
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