Resident Evil: Afterlife is the fourth installment of the long-running action-horror franchise, directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. This entry pushes the series deeper into science-fiction action territory, with a heavy focus on spectacle, slow-motion combat, and the continued evolution of Alice’s abilities.
Detailed Summary
The Opening: Tokyo Chaos
The film opens in a rainy Shibuya crossing. A mysterious young woman bites a passerby, triggering a mini-outbreak that leads directly into Umbrella’s Tokyo facility. Years later, Alice infiltrates this base with a team of her own clones, showcasing their superhuman combat skills. The attack devastates Umbrella’s HQ, but not before a confrontation with Albert Wesker, who manages to escape and neutralizes Alice’s powers using a built-in virus suppressant.
Alice’s Search for Survivors
Now fully human again, Alice flies across a scorched America searching for life signs. She discovers Claire Redfield, who has amnesia due to an Umbrella mind-control device. Together, they travel to Los Angeles, locating a group of survivors barricaded inside an abandoned prison.
Los Angeles Prison: Survival and Tension
Among the survivors is Chris Redfield—Claire’s long-lost brother—who claims to know a way out. The group believes salvation lies aboard the Arcadia, a giant ship said to offer safety, supplies, and shelter. But the prison is surrounded by Axemen, mutated creatures wielding massive hammers. Meanwhile, inside the prison, tensions rise as food dwindles and the infected begin breaking in through tunnels.
The Escape and Confrontation
Using a crashed aircraft and sewer tunnels, the group attempts a daring escape. The Axeman attacks in one of the film’s most memorable fight sequences, featuring Claire and Alice battling the creature in a shower room. The remaining survivors then make their way toward the Arcadia.
Secrets of the Arcadia
Upon reaching the ship, Alice uncovers the truth: Arcadia is not a safe haven, but an Umbrella trap used to harvest survivors for experimentation. Claire and Chris rescue K-Mart and other survivors held in suspended capsules.
This sets the stage for the final battle.
Movie Ending
The climax occurs aboard the Arcadia, where Alice confronts Albert Wesker. Now fully mutated by the T-virus, Wesker possesses superhuman speed and combat abilities. In a high-stakes fight, Alice, Claire, and Chris manage to overpower him through coordinated attacks.
However, Wesker triggers a self-destruct sequence, attempting to destroy the ship—and them—with it. Alice and the Redfield siblings escape just in time, but Wesker tries to get away in a smaller Umbrella aircraft. In a twist, the explosives he set up were secretly planted inside the plane, causing it to blow up mid-air.
The film ends with Alice broadcasting an open invitation for survivors to come to the Arcadia, now freed from Umbrella control. But as she speaks, a fleet of Umbrella VTOL aircraft approaches, commanded by Jill Valentine—now under mind control, similar to Claire earlier in the film. The closing shot sets up a major showdown, leaving viewers with an intentional cliffhanger.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
There is no post-credits scene, but the film does include a mid-credits scene introducing Jill Valentine, marking her return to the series and setting up Resident Evil: Retribution.
Type of Movie
This film is a science-fiction action-horror movie blending stylized gunfights with survival elements. While still rooted in horror, its tone leans heavily toward superpowered action and visual spectacle.
Cast
- Milla Jovovich as Alice
- Ali Larter as Claire Redfield
- Wentworth Miller as Chris Redfield
- Shawn Roberts as Albert Wesker
- Kim Coates as Bennett
- Kacey Barnfield as Crystal
- Boris Kodjoe as Luther West
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Tomandandy, known for their gritty, electronic-driven sound. Their music gives the film a colder, industrial atmosphere that fits the post-apocalyptic world. The soundtrack also features tracks by A Perfect Circle and KMFDM.
Filming Locations
- Toronto, Canada – Used for the prison sequences and city exteriors.
- Tokyo, Japan – Used for the opening scenes and Umbrella HQ sequences.
- Cinespace Film Studios (Toronto) – Provided the controlled environment for action-heavy set pieces.
These locations helped emphasize the global collapse caused by the T-virus and gave the film its slick visual identity.
Awards and Nominations
While not a major awards contender, the film received recognition for its 3D cinematography and visual effects, earning nominations at the Scream Awards and other genre-focused ceremonies.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Milla Jovovich performed many of her own stunts, particularly the wire-assisted action scenes.
- The shower-room Axeman sequence required weeks of choreography due to its slow-motion photography.
- Paul W. S. Anderson shot the movie using the same 3D camera rigs created for Avatar.
- The Axeman character was inspired by the Executioner Majini from Resident Evil 5.
- Many scenes were rewritten on set to take advantage of newly available 3D technology.
Inspirations and References
- Based loosely on gameplay elements and creatures from Resident Evil 5.
- The prison setting echoes sections of Resident Evil: Code Veronica.
- Wesker’s combat style and bullet-dodging abilities are directly inspired by the video game adaptation of his character.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Several deleted scenes primarily expand prison life and show more character moments, including:
- Extended interactions between survivors, revealing more about their backgrounds.
- A longer intro with Alice discovering multiple empty safe zones.
No major alternate ending was ever released, but early scripts suggested Wesker might survive in a different way.
Book Adaptations and Differences
While the movie is not a direct adaptation of a specific Resident Evil novel, the franchise does include tie-in books. Compared to game canon, the film takes significant creative liberties. Notably:
- Alice has no video-game counterpart.
- Wesker’s defeat and Claire’s role diverge heavily from their game arcs.
- The Arcadia storyline mixes elements from multiple games rather than adapting one directly.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Alice’s clone army assault on Umbrella HQ.
- Claire and Alice fighting the Axeman in the shower block.
- Prison rooftop plane-launch escape attempt.
- The final showdown with Wesker inside the Arcadia cargo bay.
Iconic Quotes
- Alice: “My name is Alice. And this is my world.”
- Wesker: “You’re starting to become a real problem.”
- Claire: “There is no safe haven. Not anymore.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Umbrella logos are intentionally hidden in environmental textures, symbolizing their global reach.
- The Axeman’s design mirrors the Executioner Majini from Resident Evil 5, down to the nails embedded in his mask.
- The Arcadia’s layout resembles the RE5 cargo ship level.
Trivia
- This film is the highest-grossing entry in the Resident Evil series worldwide.
- Wentworth Miller was cast as Chris Redfield partly due to his Prison Break fame, making the prison setting an intentional in-joke.
- The movie was shot natively in 3D, avoiding post-conversion.
- Milla Jovovich’s outfits were redesigned to highlight the new 3D camera capabilities.
Why Watch?
Because it’s stylish, fast, and unapologetically over-the-top. If you enjoy action-heavy sci-fi with a blend of horror and highly choreographed fight scenes, this entry is one of the franchise’s visually strongest installments. It’s also essential viewing for understanding the evolving Alice–Umbrella conflict.
Director’s Other Movies
- Event Horizon (1997)
- Mortal Kombat (1995)
- Resident Evil (2002)
- Alien vs. Predator (2004)
- Death Race (2008)
- Pompeii (2014)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Doom (2005)
- Underworld (2003)
- I Am Legend (2007)
- Ultraviolet (2006)
- Blade II (2002)
