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Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) Review

The fifth installment in the Resident Evil franchise, Afterlife is a return to form for the series. Picking up immediately after the events of Extinction, Alice (Milla Jovovich) and her band of survivors find themselves in Los Angeles, which has been overrun by zombies. Afterlife is a non-stop thrill ride that delivers on the gore and action, and is easily the best entry in the franchise.

The plot is simple, but effective. Alice and her friends are searching for a safe haven, but find themselves constantly under attack by zombies. The film does a great job of building tension and keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat. The action is well-choreographed and the gore is plentiful. Afterlife is a true horror film, and is sure to please fans of the genre.

The film also features some impressive visual effects. The zombies are convincingly realistic, and the action sequences are top-notch. Jovovich is, as always, a force to be reckoned with. She is believable as the tough-as-nails Alice, and her performance is one of the highlights of the film.

It looks a treat, it pounds along at a pace so fast you’ll have little time for thought, which is probably for the best, thinking might shatter the illusion that you’re actually watching a great film.

You’re not. You’re watching a sexy looking, fun movie, that does a great job of hiding the fact that it’s about as shallow as they come. Plot wise there’s really fuck all of note, it’s all just an excuse for set piece fights, great special effects, and a chance to show off that shitty 3d that seems so in vogue yet in my opinion is a pain in the arse.

There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with the movie itself. The cast can all act, the effects are sweet, and it speeds along at a rate of knots. It’s just empty, all the brilliant effects and hectic action can only distract attention for so long from the fact that it’s all style and no substance. Given huge budgets and techinical accomplishment to play with, there’re thousands of directors out there who could come up with the same thing, a zombie flick for the MTV generation who want it brash, in your face, and minimal thought.

Still, it’s a sequel to a sequel to a sequel that was based on a computer game. If, knowing that, you still expected substance, I guess you need your head examining. It does what it’s supposed to do very well, providing a popcorn flick that many people, even non horror fans, will greatly enjoy….once, or maybe twice, but that will be it.

Think of it like getting a blowjob off of a cheap whore. You’ll hand over your money, probably squirm a little with excitement along the way, and enjoy. But you’ll not have a lasting relationship, indeed you’ll probably not even ask for her name. Shallow, but highly enjoyable.

Overall, Resident Evil: Afterlife is a fun, gory, and action-packed thrill ride. It is the best entry in the franchise, and is sure to please fans of the genre.

Synopsis

Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues her fight against the Umbrella Corporation as she and a small group of survivors take refuge in a Los Angeles prison. However, the Umbrella Corporation’s forces are relentless, and Alice finds herself in the middle of a battle against a new foe: the powerful and genetically enhanced super-human, Chris Redfield (Wentworth Miller). With the help of a fellow survivor, Claire Redfield (Ali Larter), Alice must find a way to stop the Umbrella Corporation’s latest creation before it destroys them all.

Movie Details

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Writer: Paul W.S. Anderson
Actors: Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Wentworth Miller
Release Year: 2010