Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) is the fifth entry in the long-running sci-fi action-horror franchise, again directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich as one of the most enduring action heroines of 2000s cinema. Below is a comprehensive, spoiler-packed deep dive into the movie, its plot, production details, hidden trivia, and more.
Detailed Summary
The Aftermath of Resident Evil: Afterlife
The story opens immediately after the cliffhanger from Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010). The Umbrella Corporation launches a massive assault on the Arcadia ship, capturing Alice. She awakens in an Umbrella underwater facility known as the Prime Base, located beneath the ice of the Russian Arctic.
This base contains multiple bio-domes—perfect artificial recreations of iconic environments like Suburban USA, Moscow, Tokyo, and New York—used by Umbrella to test their bioweapons on cloned humans.
Alice’s Imprisonment and Escape
Alice is interrogated by Jill Valentine, who is now under Umbrella mind control thanks to the scarab device attached to her chest. After a security breach mysteriously frees Alice, she must fight her way through each simulated zone.
Meanwhile, Ada Wong (working with Wesker, who claims to now fight against Umbrella) is sent to extract Alice. A team of soldiers approaches from the ice surface to assist them, including Leon S. Kennedy.
The Suburban Nightmare
Alice discovers a suburban clone of herself living a peaceful domestic life with a young daughter, Becky. This setting is quickly raided as zombies pour in, creating one of the film’s most memorable sequences.
While this world is artificial, the emotional connection between clone Alice and Becky becomes a key emotional thread.
The Moscow Gauntlet
Alice, Ada, and the rescue team must traverse the Moscow simulation. Here they face Las Plagas zombies and an upgraded version of the Axeman creature. This section is pure high-energy spectacle, filled with shootouts, explosive sequences, and trademark slow-motion choreography.
Final Escape Attempt
The team finally reaches the submarine exit, but Jill and a brainwashed Rain intercept them. After an intense battle, Alice defeats Jill and removes the mind-control device, restoring her free will. However, Rain—now injected with a super-enhancement—remains nearly unstoppable.
Alice kills Rain by cracking the ice beneath her, letting infected corpses drag her into the water.
Movie Ending
The survivors are extracted by Wesker’s forces and brought to the White House, now functioning as humanity’s last stronghold. Here, Wesker injects Alice with her T-virus powers again, insisting that humanity needs her at full strength.
The final shot reveals a dramatic battlefield:
The White House is surrounded by hordes of zombies, mutated creatures, bio-organic weapons, and flying monstrosities in the sky. The camera pulls back to show the devastated planet, with Umbrella’s final assault looming over humanity’s last stronghold.
This ending sets up Resident Evil: The Final Chapter by promising an all-out war between the remnants of human resistance and Umbrella’s armies.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. Resident Evil: Retribution does not include any mid-credits or post-credits scenes.
Type of Movie
The film is a sci-fi action-horror with heavy emphasis on stylized combat, bioweapon monsters, and a dystopian global apocalypse narrative.
Cast
- Milla Jovovich as Alice
- Sienna Guillory as Jill Valentine
- Michelle Rodriguez as Rain Ocampo
- Li Bingbing as Ada Wong
- Shawn Roberts as Albert Wesker
- Johann Urb as Leon S. Kennedy
- Kevin Durand as Barry Burton
- Aryana Engineer as Becky
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Tomandandy, delivering an electronic, industrial, post-apocalyptic atmosphere that matches the film’s visual intensity. The soundtrack blends aggressive beats with atmospheric tension, enhancing the action-heavy tone.
Filming Locations
- Toronto, Canada – primary shooting location, including studio stages for the simulated city environments
- Moscow (exteriors) – used for establishing shots to ground the Moscow simulation in realism
The mix of real city footage and large-scale soundstage environments allows the movie to create multiple artificial worlds, tying into the plot’s theme of manufactured bioweapon test zones.
Awards and Nominations
Resident Evil: Retribution did not win major awards, but it received recognition for:
- Visual Effects Society (VES) consideration for digital creature work
- Several minor nominations related to stunts and 3D effects
Behind the Scenes Insights
- The return of multiple cast members (Michelle Rodriguez, Oded Fehr, Colin Salmon) was made possible through the cloning concept, embraced specifically to allow fan favorites to return.
- Many action scenes were filmed using the same 3D camera technology developed for Avatar.
- Milla Jovovich did many of her own stunts, including wire-assisted combat scenes.
- Sienna Guillory trained extensively to recreate Jill’s video-game fighting style.
Inspirations and References
- The movie heavily borrows from Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, particularly the Las Plagas creatures and designs.
- The suburban simulation is a nod to Resident Evil: Afterlife game modes and alternate universe scenarios in the franchise.
- Leon, Ada, and Barry’s introductions are direct tributes to their video game counterparts.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
- A slightly extended Moscow action sequence was cut for pacing.
- A deleted reunion scene between Alice and a different clone Rain was removed to avoid emotional confusion.
- An alternate ending featuring a longer speech by Wesker was reportedly storyboarded but not filmed.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The movie is not based on a book, but it ties loosely into game lore. Differences include:
- The film’s version of Ada Wong and Leon is more militarized.
- Jill’s mind-control arc mirrors but does not replicate the video game story.
Memorable Moments & Quotes
Key Scenes
- Alice waking up in the Tokyo simulation with the eerie rain-soaked street recreation.
- The suburban outbreak sequence, mixing horror and twisted domesticity.
- The Moscow chase with Las Plagas soldiers and the massive Licker.
- Jill vs. Alice battle inside the extraction chamber.
Iconic Quotes
- Wesker: “You are the weapon. You are the key to saving humanity.”
- Alice: “My name is Alice. And this is my world.”
- Rain: “What can I say? I’m the bad guy again.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Jill Valentine’s jumpsuit and mind-control device replicate her Resident Evil 5 appearance.
- The Tokyo simulation recreates the opening of Resident Evil: Afterlife.
- The giant Licker is a design evolution of creatures from Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 5.
- Umbrella logos throughout the film appear in multiple styles, referencing different eras of the franchise.
Trivia
- It is the highest-grossing film in the entire Resident Evil franchise internationally.
- Milla Jovovich announced that this film had the most stunt work she had ever done up to that point.
- Michelle Rodriguez plays two versions of Rain: a kind civilian clone and a villainous enhanced clone.
- Despite being action-heavy, many sets were surprisingly small and expanded digitally.
Why Watch?
Watch Resident Evil: Retribution for its high-energy action, stylized visual effects, nostalgic character returns, and over-the-top sci-fi spectacle. It’s also essential for understanding the final film’s setup and the escalating war between humanity and Umbrella.
Director’s Other Works (Movies)
- Mortal Kombat (1995)
- Event Horizon (1997)
- Resident Evil (2002)
- Alien vs. Predator (2004)
- Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
- Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Doom (2005)
- Underworld (2003)
- Ultraviolet (2006)
- I, Robot (2004)
- World War Z (2013)
- Blade II (2002)
