Resident Evil: Degeneration

Resident Evil: Degeneration



Just when you thought Resident Evil: Extinction was a step too far for the flailing franchise, they bring out a third sequel. Because you undeserving audiences are just flocking in your dozens to see these films, right?

Degeneration starts with a montage of critical events, starting with the news that Raccoon City has been nuked and the truth has been destroyed with it. The rest of the world lives unaware of the zombie threat.
The Umbrella Corporation, responsible for inventing the T-virus which turns people into the slow-moving, flesh-craving, brain-eating undead, has since crumbled. But, like any normal evil business sector, there is always a budding rival to take its place. It comes in the form of Wil-Pharma.

There are also a group of terrorists who demand the truth about Raccoon City be disclosed and threaten to release the T-virus otherwise.
The right vs wrong of the two groups is a grey matter. Wil-Pharma claim to be making a cure, whilst the terrorists are actually survivors from Raccoon City who lost their families.

Right in the middle of the action is the three protagonists: Claire, the caring one who can kick ass; Leon, the quiet one who can kick ass And Angela, the one whose brother is a mutant.
They kill zombies and try to suss out who really pulls the strings in the background. Sound good? Well, it isn't.

Not only could they not convince Milla Jovovich that this was a good idea, it looks like they had a hard time convincing any live actors to be in this. Opting for the hyper real animation that put Final Fantasy on the map, they settle for a group of unknown voice-over artists.

The dialogue clunks all the way through with witty banter like “Try not to get killed. - Okay, ditto”. Memorable lines like “If you don't try to save one life, you'll never save any”. All spoken without a trace of irony, it makes for a cringe worthy viewing.

The storyline is obfuscating to say the least. With a two minute exposition scene at the beginning racing through all the facts you need to understand the movie, you'd better pay attention or things won't make sense. It took ages to work out who certain characters were because I'd selfishly blinked for a second.

With nothing rising out of the mire to make this fourth instalment worth the effort, it's hard to understand why another live-action film is due out in 2010.

Verdict 3/10
The franchise continues to degenerate.